Cristiano Ronaldo reached two goalscoring milestones on Wednesday, then immediately focused his sights on rivals Atletico Madrid.
The Portuguese ace hit both goals in Real Madrid’s 2-0 UEFA Champions League win against Malmo in Sweden, ensuring their perfect start to the competition continued in Group A. On a personal level this was his 500th career goal – including those he notched for Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United and at international level – and his 323rd for Real, equalling Raul’s all-time record.
That the current number 7 has reached this total in just 308 appearances, as opposed to the former Bernabeu favourite who took 741 matches, makes the achievement all the more stunning. And setting his sights on becoming the club’s standalone top goalscorer, Ronaldo hopes to pip the Spaniard when Los Blancos take on Atletico at the Vicente Calderon this weekend.
“I have to say that I’m happy to break the records,” the 30-year-old forward told UEFA.com. “To become the highest scorer for Real Madrid, the biggest club in history, I’m so proud. It’s a great moment. It’s fantastic, I will sleep happy tonight. But on Sunday we have another game, a derby against a fantastic team. I’m thinking of next game which is the most important.”
Ronaldo first found the back of the net on his very first game for Sporting in October 2002, when he hit a brace in a 3-0 win against Moreirense when he was just 17. He would score three more for his first club before moving to United in 2003, where he netted 118 times before moving to Real to score, for now, 323 goals. At international level, he has 54 goals in 122 caps for Portugal.
