Cristiano Ronaldo scored against Ghana to beat Lionel Messi in the FIFA World Cup goal tally, with the Portuguese netting his eighth goal in the tournament’s history, against Ghana at Stadium 974 in Qatar.
LIVE FIFA World Cup record updates: Messi equals Ronaldo’s World Cup record
Lionel Messi, coming into the 2022 World Cup had six goals in 19 matches, which increased to seven in 20 after his spot-kick against Saudi Arabia in Argentina’s opening match in the tournament.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, has scored eight goals in 18 World Cup appearances, including a hat-trick against Spain in the 2018 edition of the marquee event.
The Portuguese surpasses Messi in another aspect in the same game, when he got the Player of the Match award for the seventh time, the maximum number of times for a player in the tournament. Messi and Arjen Robben of Netherlands sit second with six Player of the Match awards.
Since making his debut for Portugal in 2003, Ronaldo has netted 117 goals in 191 international appearances, making him the world record holder for most international goals, surpassing Iranian legend Ali Daei.
With the goal against Ghana., Ronaldo also became the second-oldest goalscorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup, after Roger Milla.
The Portuguese talisman has appeared in every edition of the quadrennial event, since his debut in 2006. He is the only player ever to score in five World Cups.
Ronaldo scored his latest goal after converting his penalty against Ghana in the 65th minute of Portugal’s opening match of the FIFA World Cup. He was brought down by Mohammed Salisu inside the box.
Ronaldo now needs one more goal at the Qatar World Cup 2022 to eclipse the legendary Eusebio, who has nine World Cup goals, as Portugal’s all-time leading goal-scorer in World Cups.
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