Cristiano Ronaldo now claims the bragging rights as the first player in football history to score 800 career goals for club and country – a record no one has matched either past or present.
The veteran put Manchester United 2-1 up against Arsenal at Old Trafford to reach the remarkable milestone with a cool finish into the bottom corner after finding space inside the box.
Typically, he made it 801 just few minutes later after he powered in a penalty in the 70th minute to restore the a 3-2 lead for Manchester United.
The 36-year-old’s desire to be acknowledged by all as the greatest player to ever play the game is well-documented and with this feat, few could argue he hasn’t already achieved his aim.
The second coming of Ronaldo, along with the signings of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, led to sincere optimism from the Old Trafford faithful that the eight-year wait for a title could come to an end.
Instead, humiliating defeats to closest rivals Liverpool and Man City have all but quashed the hopes of even United’s most hopeful supporters.
Nine goals and one assist in 12 appearances during his second-stint at the club, Ronaldo’s tendency to notch last-gasp winners has often bailed out his teammates faltering performances – particularly in the Champions League.
A competition that is synonymous with Ronaldo’s genius, the 36-year-old has only increased his lead at the top of the competitions all-time scoring charts since coming back to United, notching five goals in four European outings.
As Ronaldo surpasses the 800-goal mark, the debate will forever rage on surrounding who the best player of all-time is – but there is little debate over the best goal-scorer.
