Cristiano Ronaldo nets stunning bicycle kick to surpass incredible Diego Maradona record
Yesterday at 05:46 PM
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals for Portugal after turning 35 years old than Diego Maradona scored for Argentina in his entire career.
The Portugal captain bagged two goals in his country’s 5-1 demolition of Poland in the Nations League on Friday.
They marked his 134th and 135th goals for his country.
But without knowing it, Ronaldo has completed another mind-blowing feat.
Maradona, hailed as one of Argentina and football’s greatest ever players, bagged 34 goals for his country in 91 appearances from 1977 to 1994.
Ronaldo – who turns 40 in February – has played 217 times for his country.
But since he turned 35, he’s scored, ironically, 35 goals.
Incredibly, that means he’s surpassed 1986 World Cup winner Maradona’s international tally from his whole career.
Ronaldo may be playing out in Saudi Arabia in his twilight years, but he’s still banging in goals for his country – and they’re not just simple tap-ins or penalties either.
Well, he did score from the spot for his country’s second goal of the evening with a panenka.
But his second goal with three minutes to go of normal time has reminded fans of that bicycle kick against Juventus.
Vitinha sent a looping ball across the box to Ronaldo who stood unmarked in the box.
But instead of taking a touch or hitting it on the volley, Ronaldo jumped into a position he knows all too well.
Scissor-kicking to fire his right leg into the air, Ronaldo sent the ball sailing into the net to round off a near-perfect night for Portugal.
His country are top of Nations League Group A, taking 13 points in five games.
Croatia are in second on seven points.
Fancy slowing down anytime soon, Cristiano?