The Real Madrid forward struck Portugal’s opener in tonight’s European Qualifier against the Faroe Islands, taking him to 76 for his country and ahead of Kocsis, and Ronaldo then completed a hat-trick. His tally of 78 is even one ahead of Pelé’s career total for Brazil, putting Ronaldo joint fifth on the world list.

The 32-year-old still has a little way to go to catch Ferenc Puskás’s European record of 84 goals, but if he continues at this rate with a joint-record 14 in this qualifying campaign alone then there is every chance he will. Ali Daei scored 109 times for Iran, the world record.

Europe’s all-time top international goalscorers
Ferenc Puskás (Hungary & Spain) – 84 goals in 89 appearances

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 78 in 146
Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) – 75 in 68
Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 71 in 137
Gerd Müller (West Germany) – 68 in 62
Robbie Keane (Republic of Ireland) – 68 in 146
Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden) – 62 in 116
Imre Schlosser (Hungary) – 59 in 68
David Villa (Spain) – 59 in 97
Jan Koller (Czech Republic) – 55 in 91
Joachim Streich (East Germany) – 55 in 102
Wayne Rooney (England) – 53 in 117
Poul Nielsen (Denmark) – 52 in 38
Jon Dahl Tomasson (Denmark) – 52 in 112
Lajos Tichy (Hungary) – 51 in 72
Hakan Sükür (Turkey) – 51 in 112
Thierry Henry (France) – 51 in 123
Robin van Persie (Netherlands) – 50 in 102

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Source: UEFA

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