Ronaldo thanks Reds after hitting goal landmark
Cristiano Ronaldo has thanked his former Manchester United team-mates and coaches, after reaching yet another career landmark.
The Portuguese icon netted during Juventus’s 3-0 win over Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday, meaning he has now scored an utterly incredible 750 goals for club and country since making his professional debut in 2002.
After the match, the 35-year-old used social media to credit those who had assisted him along the way, including those who have helped him push on to become a better player.
𝟕𝟓𝟎 goals, 𝟕𝟓𝟎 happy moments, 𝟕𝟓𝟎 smiles in the faces of our supporters. Thank you to all the players and coaches that helped me reach this amazing number, thank you to all my loyal opponents that made me work harder and harder everyday. pic.twitter.com/ZuS4GDOzeh
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 2, 2020
The ever-ambitious Cristiano also revealed that he already has another target in his sights.
“750 goals, 750 happy moments, 750 smiles in the faces of our supporters,” the star wrote on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.
“Thank you to all the players and coaches that helped me reach this amazing number, thank you to all my loyal opponents that made me work harder and harder every day.
“But above all, thanks to my wonderful family, always present in my best and worst moments. Next stop: 800 goals! Let’s go!”
Ronaldo hit 118 goals for United in 292 games between 2003 and 2009, including a phenomenal 42 in all competitions as the Reds marched to league and European glory in 2007/08.
He was most prolific at Real Madrid, netting a barely believable 450 times in 438 games, while, in September, Cristiano became only the second man to hit a century of international goals – he’s currently on 102 and closing in on Iranian Ali Daei’s all-time record of 109.
Ronaldo’s strike against Kiev was his 75th for Juventus, while he also registered on five occasions for first club Sporting Lisbon.
While Brazilians Pele and Romario claim to have hit the 1,000 mark during their careers, Cristiano has the most goals of any active professional footballer and currently leads great rival Lionel Messi by 38.
Former Red Zlatan Ibrahimovic is next up, on 558, while Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski also has over 500 goals to his name in senior football.