Cristiano Ronaldo at 100: How many European goals can the Real Madrid great get?
ByReuters
Updated 13/04/2017 at 14:01 GMT
Cristiano Ronaldo’s two strikes against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday saw him become the first player to score 100 goals in UEFA competitions, but how many more could he get?
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring a goal
Image credit: Reuters
WHAT HAPPENED
Zinedine Zidane's side drew with neighbours Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Saturday and looked likely to fall short again after being outplayed by Bayern in the first half before Ronaldo came to the rescue to seal a 2-1 win.
THE FIGHTBACK STARTS NOW?
While the Portugal forward has demonstrated an ability to win matches single-handedly throughout his career, his latest survival act came in an unfamiliar context having struggled to hit the lofty heights he sets himself in La Liga this season.
Despite an admirable 19 goals in 24 league appearances, Ronaldo looks unlikely to match the tallies he has managed in his last six seasons (40, 46, 34, 31, 48, 35). And he had previously gone 613 minutes of European football without finding the net - his longest drought for eight years.
Yet he delivered an outstanding second-half performance to reach 100 European goals, with 98 in the Champions League and two coming in Madrid's 2-0 UEFA Super Cup victory over Sevilla in 2014.
WHAT RONALDO SAID
I don't know who doubts me. People who love Cristiano never have any doubts. You have to tell me who doubts me because none of it has come to me.
I'm happy, I wanted to reach this record. To do so is an honour and to do it against a team like Bayern is even better."
THE BREAKDOWN OF HIS GOALS
Of Ronaldo's haul in Europe's top competition, he has managed 82 for Real, with the other 16 coming for Manchester United, and his double took him four goals ahead of Lionel Messi (94) in the race to become the first player to score 100 Champions League goals.
| Season | Champions League | UEFA Super Cup | Champions League qualifying |
| 2016-17 | 4 | ||
| 2015-16 | 16 | ||
| 2014-15 | 10 | ||
| 2013-14 | 17 | 2 | |
| 2012-13 | 12 | ||
| 2011-12 | 10 | ||
| 2010-11 | 6 | ||
| 2009-10 | 7 | ||
| 2008-09 | 4 | ||
| 2007-08 | 8 | ||
| 2006-07 | 3 | ||
| 2005-06 | 1 |
REACTION TO THE FEAT
"Cristiano was unhappy because he couldn't score a third, that's how ambitious he is," his boss Zidane said after the match.
How many more can he score?
As mentioned above, Ronaldo has not scored as frequently this season.
However, it would be folly to suggest that Ronaldo’s powers might be on the wane. He has consistently modified his game and is increasingly operating as an out-and-out poacher.
His two goals against Bayern may have only taken him to four for the year in Europe, but he potentially has another four games this season to add to that total.
The Portugal captain, 32, is contracted to Madrid until 2021, which means he potentially has another four seasons playing in the competition, with a maximum of 13 games a season.
It would not be unreasonable to assume that even if his strike rate were to slow, he would still be firing at the mere mortal level of a goal every other game, and let’s also assume that Real match their record of reaching at least the semi-final stage in each of the last four seasons.
Ronaldo could feasibly hit six goals a season for the next four years, which would take him to 124. Of course this is an inexact science but they are some hugely impressive numbers and do account for a potential slowdown in return.
Lionel Messi may pass him given he is three years younger, but Ronaldo's record will stand the test of time.
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