GiveMeSport
·25 June 2021
GiveMeSport
·25 June 2021
On Wednesday evening, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 108th and 109th goals of his glittering international career.
The global icon converted from the penalty spot on two occasions for Portugal in the 2-2 draw with France in their final Euro 2020 group stage game.
Ronaldo's second successful effort from 12 yards means he is now level with Iran's Ali Daei as international football's record goalscorer.
It's yet another incredible achievement from arguably the finest footballer in history and he will likely surpass Daei's tally when Portugal meet Belgium in their Euro 2020 last-16 match on Sunday night.
The 36-year-old really is a phenomenon, but how does his stellar goalscoring record for Portugal rank among the rest of international football's leading scorers in terms of goals-per-game?
Well, we've decided to find out.
Below, you'll find the top 25 goal-getters in international history ranked in order by their goals-per-game ratios.
Ronaldo is in 15th place, with four active players ahead of him (those with an Asterix next to their name are active).
25. Hossam Hassan (Egypt) - 0.39
Games: 178
Goals: 69
24. Robbie Keane (Republic of Ireland) - 0.47
Games: 146
Goals: 68
23. Lionel Messi* (Argentina) - 0.50
Games: 147
Goals: 73
=21. Majed Adbullah (Saudi Arabia) - 0.51
Games: 140
Goals: 72
=21. Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala) - 0.51
Games: 133
Goals: 68
20. Miroslav Klose (Germany) - 0.52
Games: 137
Goals: 71
19. Kiatisuk Senamuang (Thailand) - 0.53
Games: 134
Goals: 71
=17. Hussein Saeed Mohammed (Iraq) - 0.57
Games: 137
Goals: 78
=17. Robert Lewandowski* (Poland) - 0.57
Games: 122
Goals: 69
=15. Cristiano Ronaldo* (Portugal) - 0.61
Games: 178
Goals: 109
=15. Stern John (Trinidad) - 0.61
Games: 115
Goals: 70
=13. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) - 0.62
Games: 105
Goals: 65
=13. Godfrey Chitalu (Zambia) - 0.62
Games: 111
Goals: 69
12. Sunil Chhetri* (India) - 0.63
Games: 118
Goals: 74
11. Neymar* (Brazil) - 0.64
Games: 107
Goals: 68
=9. Romelu Lukaku* (Belgium) - 0.66
Games: 96
Goals: 63
=9. Mokhtar Dahari (Malaysia) - 0.66
Games: 131
Goals: 86
8. Piyapong Pue-on (Thailand) - 0.70
Games: 100
Goals: 70
7. Ali Daei (Iran) - 0.73
Games: 149
Goals: 109
6. Ali Mabkhout* (United Arab Emirates) - 0.82
Games: 93
Goals: 76
5. Pele (Brazil) - 0.85
Games: 91
Goals: 77
=3. Kunishige Kamamoto (Japan) - 0.99
Games: 76
Goals: 75
=3. Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) - 0.99
Games: 85
Goals: 84
2. Gerd Muller (West Germany) - 1.09
Games: 62
Goals: 68
1. Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) - 1.10
Games: 68
Goals: 75
We get the feeling that no player is going to get anywhere near either Koscis or Muller's level of prolificacy on the international stage for quite some time.
Given the difference in competitiveness and quality within the sport these days, it may never happen again...