Ronaldo produces grand finale to claim goalscoring world record

Cristiano Ronaldo now has more international goals than any other man in history, scoring twice in Portugal’s win over Ireland.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Ireland. Picture: AFP

Great players keep going right to the end and Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the greatest, scoring twice late on to break the world international goalscoring record and Ireland hearts in the process after Stephen Kenny’s team looked as though they were going to come away from the Algarve with at least a point on Wednesday night.

Ireland had led through John Egan’s first goal for his country up until the 89th minute when Ronaldo struck with a header from a cross by Goncalo Guedes, his 110th international goal. That was cruel on Ireland but the agony didn’t end there as Ronaldo struck again with an almost identical header from a Joao Mario cross at the end of six minutes of stoppage time.

Up until that frantic last ten minutes of the game, it had looked like a night of frustration for Ronaldo, who had begun the night level with Iran’s Ali Daei on 109 goals. Ireland’s 19-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu saved a penalty from the new Manchester United signing early on and the striker cut a frustrated figure for much of the game.

“I’m very happy, not just because I beat the record but for the special moments that we had,” Ronaldo said. “Two goals at the end of the game is so tough but I have to appreciate what the team did in the end.”

Ronaldo, who first played for Portugal in 2003 and has now won 180 caps, shrugged off his penalty miss. “It’s part of the business,” he said. “Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss, but I still believed to the end of the game.”

The result left Portugal top of group A with ten points from four games while Ireland are still pointless after three matches.

Ireland conceded the penalty in the tenth minute when Bazunu tried to play a short ball in his own penalty box which was seized on by Bruno Fernandes, who was pulled down by Jeff Hendrick. Fernandes might normally have expected to take the penalty himself - but not here. Ronaldo put the ball on the spot and then found himself the subject of a VAR check as he shoved away Dara O’Shea. Eventually the penalty was taken and missed, Bazunu diving low to his right to make the save.

The heroics of Bazunu inspired his older team-mates and what played out from there was a storming first half with Ireland giving as good as they got.

They got their reward just before the break when Jamie McGrath’s outswinging corner to the edge of the six-yard area was met by Egan, who got between Joao Cancelo and Ronaldo and flicked a header which flew across the goalkeeper Rui Patricio and into the net.

Portugal continued to created chances and had the majority of possession in the second half. Ronaldo teed up Fernandes who shot just wide and then Bernardo Silva missed a glaring opening in the 72nd minute.

Ronaldo signalled his frustration minutes later when he clutched his face and accused Seamus Coleman of swinging an arm at him. Just when it looked as though Ireland would hold out, the world’s most prolific international goalscorer struck, twice.

FIFA World Cup qualifier

Portugal 2 (Ronaldo 89, 90+6)

Republic of Ireland 1 (Egan 45)

The Times