On a warm September evening at Estádio Algarve in Faro, Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football. His 110th and 111th goals lifted Portugal to a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over the Republic of Ireland and carried him past the 109-goal mark set by Iran’s Ali Daei.
A saved penalty, then a late revival
The night began with a setback. Ronaldo saw a 15th-minute penalty saved by goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, and John Egan’s header gave Ireland a lead that held deep into the second half. Portugal pushed forward and the turning point arrived in the 89th minute when Gonçalo Guedes swung a cross from the right.
Ronaldo rose and drove a header past Bazunu for the equaliser, drawing level with Daei’s record. The celebration was brief. Six minutes into stoppage time, João Mário delivered another cross and Ronaldo powered a second towering header into the net, sealing the win and claiming the record outright.
From 109 to 111 — a record held alone
The two headed goals brought his tally to 111 goals in 180 caps for Portugal, a journey that began in 2003. At the time, only Ronaldo and Daei had passed 100 goals in the men’s international game. He was already the record scorer in the European Championship and the Champions League.
The result kept Portugal three points clear at the top of their qualifying group. It also came days after Ronaldo completed a return to Manchester United, adding extra weight to an already charged evening.
“From all the records that I have broken during my career — and fortunately there have been a few — this one is very special for me,” he told reporters afterwards. “It is certainly on the shelf of the achievements that make me truly proud.”
He had missed one chance and then seized two. The captain who once lifted a European title after leaving the final injured had simply refused to leave the scoreboard unfinished.
