Cristiano Ronaldo has become the highest goalscorer in the 2023 calendar year after netting a brace against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday evening.
The 38-year-old captained his nation to a 5-0 win to help Portugal solidify their hold in the 2024 UEFA European Championship qualifiers group. They had already qualified with a 3-2 win against Slovakia on Friday where he also scored a brace, including the goal that proved to be the winner. However, they showed no intention of letting up at the Bilino Polje stadium in Bosnia.
The first of his two goals against their hosts was a penalty in the fifth minute which he dispatched with the coolness that the world has become accustomed to. 15 minutes later, he ran on to a through ball from Atlético de Madrid man João Felix (on loan at Barcelona) to chip the goalkeeper for his and Portugal’s second of the game.
Both goals saw him hit 40 for 2023, making him the highest goalscorer in world football for the calendar year. They were also his 126th and 127th international goals to further extend his lead at the top of the international scoring charts. They were also his 858th and 859th career goals which further extended his lead at the top of the global scoring charts.
The former Real Madrid forward was given a target of 1,000 goals by the president of FC Porto, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, despite the talismanic forward being a product of one of their fierce rivals, Sporting CP.
Ronaldo acknowledged the challenge before the Bosnia-Herzegovina game and stated to the journalists that he will take a crack at it.
“It’s going to be pretty tough, but it’s about seeing how I am mentally, my motivation,” the Al-Nassr front man said. “If, physically, my legs treat me as well as I treat them? We’ll see.”
“There are small stages. Before I can go for 1,000, first I have to get to 900. I think I’ll get there.”
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes scored the third of the night against Bosnia-Herzegovina while João Cancelo and Felix added the fourth and fifth in a brilliant first half performance. That was the first time in their history that Portugal had gone into half time with a 5-0 lead.
The game ended with that scoreline as they were unable to muster any attacking threat in the second half.
