Faro: Cristiano Ronaldo rewrote the all-time international goalscoring record after he netted his 110th goal for Portugal and then scored a winner in the injury-time to yield his country a 2-1 World Cup qualifying triumph over the Republic of Ireland here on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Ronaldo, who returned to his old club Manchester United from Juventus recently, had missed a spot-kick in the 15th minute before John Egan put Ireland in lead at the breather.
But Ronaldo’s equaliser through a header came in the 89th minute, before foxing the Irish defence again in the sixth minute of additional time. He surpassed Ali Daei’s tally of 109 international goals, after equalling the Iranian great’s record tally during Euro 2020.
“I’m so happy, not just because I beat the record, but for the special moment that we had,” Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“I have to appreciate what the team did, we believed until the end. I’m so glad,” he said.
Portugal are now on top of Group A with 10 points from four matches, although Serbia are only three points behind with a game to go.
The group winners automatically qualify for the finals to be held in Qatar, with the runners-up need to proceed for play-offs.
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