Cristiano Ronaldo – The Top EURO Goal Scorer of All Time
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the biggest names of European football, has reached another important milestone in his career – the Portuguese player is the Euro top goal scorer of all time. Before the Euro 2020, Ronaldo was tied with Michel Platini at 9 but he managed to surpass the French legend and become number 1 with 12 goals and counting.
His debut for Portugal on UEFA’s Championship was back in 2004 and in that first game against Greece, Ronaldo managed to hit the back of the net once. 17 years later and thanks to the amazing Euro 2020 start (2 goals against Hungary and 1 against Germany) the captain of the Portuguese national football team is now a new record holder.
The List of Euro Top Scorers
Football Player |
Goals |
Country |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
12 |
Portugal |
Michel Platini |
9 |
France |
Alan Shearer |
7 |
England |
Antoine Griezmann |
7 |
France |
Ruud van Nistelrooy |
6 |
Netherlands |
Patrick Kluivert |
6 |
Netherlands |
Wayne Rooney |
6 |
England |
Thierry Henry |
6 |
France |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
6 |
Sweden |
Nuno Gomes |
6 |
Portugal |
Including the last game with Germany, Ronaldo played 23 Euro matches so far. And if we take qualifying games into account as well, Ronaldo has landed 43 goals. This fact puts him way above any other player – the next two are Zlatan Ibrahimovic with 25 and Robbie Keane with 23 goals.
Ronaldo’s Euro Matches and Goals
Opposition |
Date |
End Result |
Goals by Ronaldo |
Stage |
Greece |
12 June 2004 |
1:2 |
1 |
Group |
Russia |
16 June 2004 |
2:0 |
/ |
Group |
Spain |
20 June 2004 |
1:0 |
/ |
Group |
England |
24 June 2004 |
2:2 (Win on Penalties) |
/ |
Quarter-Finals |
Netherlands |
30 June 2004 |
2:1 |
1 |
Semi-Finals |
Greece |
4 July 2004 |
0:1 |
/ |
Final |
Turkey |
7 Jun 2008 |
2:0 |
/ |
Group |
Czech Republic |
11 June 2008 |
3:1 |
1 |
Group |
Germany |
19 June 2008 |
2:3 |
/ |
Quarter-Finals |
Germany |
9 June 2012 |
0:1 |
/ |
Group |
Denmark |
13 June 2012 |
3:2 |
/ |
Group |
Netherland |
17 June 2012 |
2:1 |
2 |
Group |
Czech Republic |
21 June 2012 |
1:0 |
1 |
Quarter-Finals |
Spain |
17 June 2012 |
0:0 (Lost on Penalties) |
/ |
Semi-Finals |
Iceland |
14 June 2016 |
1:1 |
/ |
Group |
Austria |
18 June 2016 |
0:0 |
/ |
Group |
Hungary |
22 June 2016 |
3:3 |
2 |
Group |
Croatia |
25 June 2016 |
1:0 |
/ |
Round of 16 |
Poland |
30 June 2016 |
1:1 (Win on Penalties) |
/ |
Quarter-Finals |
Wales |
6 July 2016 |
2:0 |
1 |
Semi-Finals |
France |
10 July 2016 |
1:0 |
/ |
Final |
Hungary |
15 June 2021 |
3:0 |
2 |
Group |
Germany |
19 June 2021 |
2:4 |
1 |
Group |
Ronaldo is also closing in on Ali Daei’s international scoring record. Daei, the captain of the Iranian national football team between 2000 and 2006, managed to score 109 goals in total while representing his country on the pitch. At the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo has 107 goals and there is a good chance he breaks Daei’s record during the Euro 2020.