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Another game, another record. This time, on Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Malmo, Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice to become Real Madrid’s all-time joint leading scorer in all competitions. Oh, and he also brought up goals number 500 and 501 in the process.
It was yet another memorable night for the current generation’s biggest superstar as he took his tally at the Bernabeu to 323, and he now has to be seriously considered as the greatest modern day goalscorer that has ever lived. To score 501 career goals is nothing short of phenomenal; to do it whilst primarily operating from the wings is staggering.
A true legend of the sport is one that will be remembered for generations to come. There is absolutely no question that Ronaldo fits this bill, not least because he has enjoyed the bulk of his achievements at the game’s two biggest clubs.
Mach Five for Ronaldo
Arguably one of the clearest reflections to Ronaldo’s standing in the game is that the 500 milestone feels little more than just the latest in a long line of achievements. The Real Madrid icon had already written his name into the records books earlier in the month by becoming his club’s record scorer in La Liga. Quite fittingly, he did this in mind-blowing circumstances by notching a 20-minute hat-trick en route to a personal haul of five goals as the Blancos hit six past Espanyol.
Cristiano’s fifth goal at the Power8 Stadium was his 230th league strike for the club, surpassing Raul’s record of 228. Incredibly, the feat had been achieved in 347 games fewer. While the former Spanish icon hit his haul in 550 games, the current Real galactico managed his in just 203!
To put that in perspective, Ronaldo’s 230 goals had been scored at a phenomenal rate of 1.11 goals per game compared to Raul’s 0.41. Meanwhile, in all competitions, if Ronaldo’s goal ratio is multiplied by the number of games Raul took to reach his 323 club goals, he would have notched 777.
Unsurprisingly, the former’s goal ratio is the best in La Liga history. The 30-year-old was also the quickest man to hit the 100, 150, and 200 goal milestones in Spain. Despite a rare spell of three goalless games prior to his Malmo double, the global superstar will almost certainly continue to break more records until he finally quits the Bernabeu.
Where does Ronaldo stand in football history?
If the Liga records weren’t enough to underline the three-time Ballon d’Or winner’s scoring ability, he then followed his weekend haul with a Champions League hat-trick (his 33rd for Real Madrid overall) to finally cement his place as the all-time leading scorer European Cup history for the first time by edging three ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. A lead that was stretched to five against Malmo and could become more before the Argentine star returns from injury.
As far as sheer numbers are concerned, Ronaldo ranks alongside the very best in history. He is joined in the upper echelons by current rival Messi, as well as a handful of stars from previous generations.
The likes of Gerd Muller, Pele, and Eusebio all stake a claim for the title of greatest ever finisher. However, it’s the variety of goals that makes the reigning Ballon d’Or holder stand out from the crowd.
The Madeiran marvel has scored all manner of goals during an exceptional career. An incredible 83 of those goals have come from outside the box, including a phenomenal 45 free-kicks. Meanwhile, 90 left-footed and 83 headed efforts indicate that Ronaldo is equally cerebral with all parts of parts of his body.
It almost seems disrespectful to compare great players from different eras. However, every other world-class phenomenon has always had one weakness. Cristiano does not. The fact that most of his success has come from operating on the wings only makes his incredible story all the more astounding.
Ronaldo – the ideal super-athlete
Ronaldo’s body is arguably the reason that he is, in my opinion, the greatest finisher to ever grace the beautiful game. While he had already been touted as a potential superstar long before his switch to Manchester United in the summer of 2003, those forecasts were only realised through hard work and determination.
The skill and natural flair were there from the start. However, at the time of his Old Trafford departure just six years later, Ronaldo’s appearance could have scarcely been further from the scrawny teen that had arrived from Sporting Lisbon. His commitment to sculpting the perfect physique has been well documented over the years, but its importance cannot be emphasised enough.
Quite simply: Ronaldo had joined Manchester United a boy and had left a man. For the best part of a decade, he has been the football’s ultimate physical specimen. After picking up four domestic league titles and two Champions League winners’ medals, the hard work has certainly been vindicated.
Make no mistake, physical maturity was accompanied by a growing understanding of the game. While the showmanship has remained, the extra step-over has been upgraded to a killer pass or sublime strike. Nevertheless, those hours in the gym are the key to his elevated performance.
In terms of acceleration, jumping ability, and ability to get his body where it needs to be, there has never been anyone better. How many times have we seen the superstar bust a gut to get onto a cross or pass that no other player could reach? Quite frankly, this is one of the chief reasons that he is one of the game’s all-time greatest poachers.
When combined with his ability to score a goal a from distance or from anywhere in the attacking third, he has to be considered the greatest finisher that the world has ever seen.
The Ronaldo vs Messi debate
If you take a moment to analyse the numbers properly, it’s genuinely quite frightening. Since making the then-world record switch to Real Madrid in 2009, Ronaldo has ended every season with a minimum of 30 goals. In each of the last five, that tally has surpassed the half-century. Those statistics have been mirrored by his only real competition to being crowned the generation’s top player, which is why the Cristiano vs Messi debate will continue to roll on long after they’ve hung up their equally illustrious boots.
While the argument essentially boils down to personal opinion, it is reasonable to suggest that the Messi’s stardom is more of a gift from the footballing gods whilst Ronaldo has had to work for his place in the spotlight. That’s not to suggest that the respective superstars don’t possess the other player’s qualities, but there is no question that the two enjoy starkly contrasting styles.
One of the main disparities between the two is that Ronaldo is more of an individual talent. Messi might arguably be the better footballer, but there is no doubt that he needs the right type of players around him. This has been showcased perfectly during his international career, and he has always flourished when playing alongside players suited to his specific style.
Conversely, Ronaldo seems to be more adaptable. Whereas Messi has been fortunate enough to play in the greatest club team to ever grace the sport (of which, in fairness, he has been the catalyst), the Real Madrid man has often had to make do with far less support. This was particularly true during his time at Manchester United, where you could argue he almost single-handedly led the Red Devils to three Premier League titles and the European Cup.
Another factor that serves the iconic No.7 well is the fact he has excelled in two of the world’s best leagues. This is one of the few question marks that remains over Messi, as well as some of the game’s former idols. Achieving these feats while operating from both wings and the central positions only further boosts Ronaldo’s credentials to be named the all-time greatest finisher.
Ronaldo ticks all the necessary boxes to be considered one of the all-time greats. More importantly, after nearly a decade of being at the top, he shows no signs of slowing down – despite reaching the landmark 30th birthday back in February.
As far as being touted as the greatest ever footballer, Ronaldo’s name will always be met with scrutiny. In fact, many would argue that he isn’t even the best of his generation. However, when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, there is no doubt that he should be heralded as the most complete attacker to ever grace the sport we all love.
Scoring a goal is the hardest job in football. For my money, Cristiano Ronaldo does it better than anybody that has ever laced up a pair of boots. Whether you like him or not, you can only sit back and admire the talent.
It’s 501 for club and country so far, and there should be plenty more to come. Viva Ronaldo.
