Cristiano Ronaldo went on to prove age is just a number by scoring the 901st goal for his team, Portugal to secure a 2-1 victory over Scotland in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday evening. The goal was scored in the 87th minute and it was a late force from Ronaldo that paved the way for the win for Portugal in Lisbon being followed by tremendous enthusiasm from the home fans.
The game started with Bruno Fernandes, another teammate with Ronaldo when he was at Manchester United putting Portugal forward. But, Scotland came back strongly and equalised with a goal from Scott McTominay and the pressure shifted to the Portuguese side.
As the match got closer to the end of the play, Portugal endeavored hard to score, to have the victory on their side. Rafael Leao of AC Milan caused a majorel on the wing when he went on an explosive speed and swung the ball, cross into the box. The ball at first went unnoticed by some of the players but found its way to Ronaldo who easily put the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.
The goal was crucial for the game and it was also a very important achievement in Ronaldo’s career since he became a player with over 900 career goals when he scored against Croatia in the week. Again and again, the 39-year-old demonstrated his great talent and desire, complementing his career with yet more epic moment.
For Portugal, this was a decisive win as the team aimed for domination in the UEFA Nations League while the victory was also a perfect example of Ronaldo’s continued prowess in the Portuguese national team.
He then quickly ran off celebrating with his national team colleagues who mobbed the Real Madrid and Manchester United legend, who struck his iconic “siuuu” celebration for the baying crowd.
Ronaldo had started the match on the bench as Portugal boss Roberto Martinez sought to rest him before calling the veteran into action when the match was level at 1-1. Ronaldo’s entrance proved pivotal as Scotland were unable to fight back in the game’s dying moments, slumping to their second consecutive defeat in just three days.
This goal marks the start of Ronaldo’s pursuit of 1,000 career goals. The veteran forward had previously shared his intention to achieve this record-breaking feat, despite being in the twilight of his career. After scoring, Ronaldo shared his thoughts, saying, “Only I and those around me know how difficult it is to work daily to stay physically and psychologically fit to reach goal 900. This milestone is incredibly significant, and I celebrated it with a lot of emotion. It’s a number I aimed for a long time, and I knew I would achieve it as I continued to play. I’ve already won two trophies with Portugal, which was something I truly wanted. Whatever comes next is extra-special. I have more dreams to fulfill.”
Ronaldo came on at halftime against Scotland, having initially been a substitute, with Martinez later explaining that it was Ronaldo’s choice to start on the bench. “The decision was whether Ronaldo would play the first half and leave or come in and finish the game. He chose to come in later,” Martinez said. “He is a tremendous asset to the national team. When he enters the game, he brings energy and changes the atmosphere of the stadium. His presence makes a significant impact and influences the game positively for us. The important thing is the commitment of all players, and Cristiano, as captain, was exemplary.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s struggles continued, adding more pressure on manager Steve Clarke, who is facing criticism following a challenging Euro 2024 campaign and two defeats in the past week.
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