By David Awopetu
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first European to reach 100 international goals with the first of his two goals in their UEFA Nations League game in Sweden.
The Portugal forward had overtaken Ferenc Puskás’s European record of 84 during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, having achieved his century with a free-kick against the Swedes in Solna on 8 September, 2020.
The 35-year-old Juventus forward then fired in a fine second from outside the box.
Ronaldo, who played 81 minutes, is within eight goals of the world record.
Iran’s Ali Daei – the only man to score more international goals than Ronaldo – hit 109 during his playing career from 1993 to 2006.
The next top scoring current players are India’s Sunil Chhetri (72) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (70).
The result means defending Nations League champions, Portugal, have won their opening two games of this year’s event.
Portugal could have won by more with Bruno Fernandes hitting the bar and Ronaldo, on his 165th cap, forcing a good save from Robin Olsen as he searched for a hat-trick.
Almost half of Ronaldo’s international goals have come since his 30th birthday – 49 goals in 47 games.
