CRISTIANO RONALDO reached 101 international goals last night which puts the Portuguese icon just eight off all-time top scorer Ali Daei.
The global superstar scored twice in Portugal’s 2-0 Nations League win over Sweden.
The most prolific international goalscorers of all time
And he needs just nine more to become the highest international goalscorer of all time.
Iranian forward Daei bagged 109 in 149 games his country while Ronaldo has taken 164 games to reach his milestone.
And here SunSport reveals the top ten international goalscorers of all time.
ALI DAEI – IRAN
Goals: 109. Caps: 149.
The striker was most successful on the international stage but also played for Bayern Munich.
Scored his goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006.
Ali Daei is the highest international goalscorer of all time
CRISTIANO RONALDO – PORTUGAL
Goals: 101. Caps: 165.
One of the greatest players of all time and looks set to surpass Daei’s record with ease.
If he does, the record is likely to stand for years given the lack of modern day stars anywhere near him in the list.
Ronaldo scored twice vs Sweden to reach 101 international goals
FERENC PUSKAS – HUNGARY & SPAIN
Goals: 84. Caps: 89.
Real Madrid icon was unstoppable for Hungary in the 1950s scoring 84 goals in 85 games.
He went on to play four times for Spain after gaining Spanish citizenship but failed to score.
KUNISHIGE KAMAMOTO – JAPAN
Goals: 80. Caps: 84.
Kamamoto played for Samurai Blue for 13 years between 1964 and 1977 and scored a staggering 80 goals in 84 games for his country in that time.
GODFREY CHITALU – ZAMBIA
Goals: 79. Caps: 108.
Chitalu is the most prolific African of all time scoring 79 from 108 games.
He tragically died along with his international team-mates during the 1993 Zambia air disaster.
HUSSEIN SAEED – IRAQ
Goals: 78. Caps: 137.
Nobody has scored more goals for Iraq than Saeed.
The one club man only turned out for Al-Talaba but featured for his country at the Mexico ’86 World Cup as well as the 1980, 84, and 88 Olympics.
PELE – BRAZIL
Goals: 77. Caps: 92.
Perhaps the best player ever to play football.
But although impressive, his 77 goals from 92 Brazil caps seems low.
However, far less internationals were played in Pele’s day which explains it.
Pele is widely considered the greatest player of all time
SANDOR KOCSIS – HUNGARY
Goals: 75. Caps: 68.
Only player on the list with more goals than caps.
The ex-Barcelona man played alongside Puskas for Hungary in the 50s and scored his 75 goals in just eight years.
BASHAR ABDULLAH – KUWAIT
Goals: 75. Caps: 133.
The star striker burst onto the scene in the late 90s.
Spent his entire club career in the middle east and featured at three Asia Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics for his country.
SUNIL CHHETRI – INDIA
Goals: 72. Caps: 115.
No player has scored or played more for India in their football history.
Chhetri, 36, still plays for the Indian Super League side Bengaluru.
Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood PAID inside man to smuggle Icelandic beauties into hotel
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
