The international record, the trophies, and the World Cup goals
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 146 goals for Portugal — the most in the history of men's international football. He passed Iran's Ali Daei (109) to become the all-time men's international top scorer in 2021, and has extended the record ever since. He first pulled on the Portugal shirt in 2003, and is also the most-capped male player in the history of the game.
For years the men's international scoring record belonged to Ali Daei of Iran, who finished his career on 109 goals — a mark that stood as untouchable for well over a decade. Ronaldo drew level and then overtook it in 2021, and rather than stopping there he kept adding to the tally season after season. His 146 now sit far clear of anyone else in the men's game, and because he also holds the record for the most caps ever won by a male player, no active footballer is remotely close to catching him. It is one of the safest records in the sport.
Ronaldo's international goals came across a record run of major tournaments rather than in isolation. He captained and inspired Portugal to their first major honour at Euro 2016, and led them to the inaugural UEFA Nations League title in 2019 and again in 2025. Spanning multiple European Championships and several FIFA World Cups, his longevity at the top of the international game is unmatched — few players appear at even one major tournament in their prime, and Ronaldo has delivered goals and trophies across generations of the squad.
Ronaldo's career World Cup tally now stands at 11 goals. At the 2026 World Cup he scored three: a brace against Uzbekistan — which made him the first player ever to score at six different World Cups — and a knockout-stage penalty against Croatia. Those goals capped a tournament history that stretches back across two decades of finals. For the full match-by-match breakdown, see our Ronaldo World Cup goals page. All 146 of these international goals are part of his 976 total career goals — 830 for his clubs and 146 for Portugal.
Explore more: Ronaldo's World Cup goals · Goals by club · His total career goals · All Ronaldo goal FAQs