Cristiano Ronaldo surpasses Messi in World Cup Qualifying goals and closes in on all-time record
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again written his name into football history. With two goals in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Armenia, the striker reached 38 goals in World Cup Qualifiers, overtaking Lionel Messi and moving within touching distance of the all-time record held by Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz.
CR7 just one goal away from record
The retired Guatemalan forward Carlos Ruiz leads the ranking with 39 goals, a milestone that Cristiano Ronaldo could equal or surpass in Portugal’s next qualifying match.
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 38 goals
- Carlos Ruiz – 39 goals
- Lionel Messi – 36 goals
- Ali Daei – 35 goals
- Robert Lewandowski – 31 goals
Ronaldo’s first goal against Armenia came after a cross from Pedro Neto, finished clinically inside the six-yard box. His second was a trademark strike from outside the area, controlling with his left before firing with his right.
Messi also scores, but Ronaldo takes the lead
Lionel Messi also made headlines in the same round of qualifiers, scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Venezuela in Buenos Aires. With that, the No.10 reached 36 goals in qualifiers and matched Iván Hurtado’s record of 72 appearances in South American qualifiers.
While Messi remains in contention, Ronaldo’s consistency and longevity give him the upper hand in this particular race.
Titles that defined CR7’s Portugal career
Beyond records, Cristiano Ronaldo has transformed Portugal’s international history. With him, the national team lifted:
- Euro 2016
- Nations League 2019
- Nations League 2025
Before CR7, Portugal had never won a major international title.
What’s next for Portugal in the qualifiers?
Portugal continues in Group F of the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Only the group leader qualifies directly, while the runner-up heads to the playoffs.
With Ronaldo chasing Ruiz’s record and still delivering at age 40, Portugal enters the next rounds full of confidence and with history on the horizon.
