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Cristiano Ronaldo into all-time top 10 international goalscorers

Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal during the WC 2018 football qualification match between Portugal and Andorra at the Mu
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo has 71 goals for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo's 71st goal for Portugal took him into the all-time top 10 in international history.

The Portuguese star netted the opener in their 3-2 friendly defeat against Sweden on Tuesday on his 138th appearance, taking him to joint-ninth in the standings, level with Majed Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Kiatisuk Senamuang of Thailand and Miroslav Klose of Germany.

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He still has some way to go to catch all-time leader Ali Daei, however, who netted 109 times for Iran in 149 caps.

Ronaldo's goal also took him to joint-third with Klose in the European list, behind the legendary Hungarian pair of Ferenc Puskas (84), and Sandor Kocsis (75).

All-time international goalscorers

Rank Player Country Goals
1 Ali Daei Iran 109
2 Ferenc Puskas Hungary 84
3 Kunishige Kamamoto Japan 80
4 Hussein Saeed Iraq 78
5 Pele Brazil 77
6 Godfrey Chitalu Zambia 76
7 Sandor Kocsis Hungary 75
7 Bashar Abdullah Kuwait 75
9 Majed Abdullah Saudi Arabia 71
9 Kiatisuk Senamuang Thailand 71
9 Miroslav Klose Germany 71
9 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal 71

The Real Madrid star has 36 goals for club and country since the start of this domestic season, scoring nine in his last four European Qualifiers.

Playing in his hometown of Funchal on the Madeira Islands on Tuesday, the fans chanted Ronaldo's name several times, including when he was substituted in the 58th minute.

Leading European goalscorers in international history

Player (Nation) Goals Caps
Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) 84 85
Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) 75 68
Miroslav Klose (Germany) 71 137
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 71 138

And the Madeira airport outside the city will be renamed after Ronaldo in a ceremony attended by the 32-year-old and his relatives on Wednesday.

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Ronaldo's homecoming to Madeira was spoiled, however, as Sweden fought back from two goals down to win the friendly.

The Real Madrid star struck just 18 minutes into his first appearance with the national team in Funchal before inspiring a move that saw Andreas Granqvist turn the ball into his own net.

But Viktor Claesson kickstarted an unlikely comeback in the 57th minute and then equalised from a corner 14 minutes from time as they looked to spoil the party.

Ronaldo was substituted after Sweden halved the deficit but he was left to watch a victory turn into defeat in front of an adoring crowd of nearly 10,000 as Joao Cancelo agonisingly scored an own goal in the final minute of stoppage-time.

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