CELEBRITY
Time line of Ronaldo’s landmark goals as he reaches 801 strikes
Cristiano Ronaldo reached yet another historic landmark Thursday evening after scoring the 800th goal of his professional career against Arsenal.
The milestone was reached with the simplest of finishes – Marcus Rashford played the ball into the feet of the Portuguese great who swept home right-footed from 10 yards out.
To celebrate the 36-year-old’s sensational achievement, we look back at seven of his other landmark strikes from over the years.
Goal 100: Manchester United 3-1 Tottenham (FA Cup)
Ronaldo hit the 100 mark during his initial stint with Manchester United, with the milestone being reached in an FA Cup clash with Tottenham in January 2008.
The Portuguese star, only 22 at the time, scored twice in the game — his low drive in the dying minutes securing a 3-1 win for the Red Devils and also bringing up his personal century.
Goal 200: Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia (LaLiga)
It was 200 up for Ronaldo in December 2010, by which point he was becoming accustomed to grabbing headlines and re-writing history books as Real Madrid’s talismanic No7.
A low drive against Valencia sealed a double century of career strikes, achieved in a campaign where he would go on to beat Lionel Messi to be crowned LaLiga’s top scorer with a 40-goal haul.
Goal 300: Granada 1-2 Real Madrid (LaLiga)
It took less than 18 months for Ronaldo to add another 100 strikes onto his tally, blasting home a penalty against Granada in May 2012 as Los Blancos stormed to one of their most emphatic LaLiga triumphs ever.
He and Barcelona rival Lionel Messi would notch 96 league goals between them in that campaign — two of the greatest ever players truly at the peak of their powers.
Goal 400: Real Madrid 3-0 Celta Vigo (LaLiga)
The midway point of the megastar’s current astonishing tally, Ronaldo scored his 400th career goal in a comfortable 3-0 victory for Real Madrid against Celta Vigo in January 2014.
With the game still hanging in the balance at 1-0, the Portuguese made sure of Madrid’s victory in the 82nd minute before adding a third in injury time to claim his latest landmark strike.
Goal 500: Malmo 0-2 Real Madrid (Champions League)
As the Champions League’s all-time top scorer, it is no surprise that Ronaldo’s 500th career goal came in Europe’s elite competition.
In a group stage match against Swedish minnows Malmo in September 2015, CR7 was afforded acres of space to rifle home in typical fashion before going on to wrap up a comfortable win with his 501st goal for good measure.
Goal 600: Real Madrid 4-1 Juventus (Champions League)
Fittingly, Ronaldo’s 600th goal came on one of the grandest stages of all — the 2017 Champions League final.
Ghosting in at the front post to convert a low cross and put Real Madrid 3-1 up his against future employers Juventus, an eventual 4-1 win earned the legendary forward a fourth European crown of his career.
Goal 700: Ukraine 2-1 Portugal, Euro 2020 qualifier
If the 600th came in a memorable game, Ronaldo’s 700th arrived in slightly less glamorous circumstances — though he did at least notch it in national colours.
Though the Portugal skipper’s penalty could not prevent the Selecao losing in Ukraine, they would eventually go on to qualify for Euro 2020 — a tournament where Ronaldo finished top scorer.
The legacy of Brazilian football legend Pelé has taken a new turn after Neymar Santos Sr, father of Brazil star Neymar Jr, confirmed the acquisition of the commercial rights to Pelé’s name and image through his agency, NR Sports.
Speaking at the Pelé Museum in Santos, Brazil, Neymar Sr said the deal marks a new chapter for one of the most iconic brands in global sport.
“We are proud. I think it’s a very strong brand. We want to strengthen its identity and adapt it to the current era,” he said, describing the project as deeply emotional and nationally significant.
Although financial details were not officially disclosed, Brazilian media estimate the acquisition at around $18 million. The rights had previously belonged to US-based company Sport 10, which many in Brazil accused of underdeveloping a national treasure.
A ‘Repatriation’ of Pelé’s Legacy
NR Sports described the agreement as a “repatriation” of Pelé’s brand—bringing back to Brazil “one of the greatest symbols in the history of world sport.”
Pelé’s daughter, Flavia, attended the announcement and welcomed the move, saying the family had tried—and failed—to reacquire the rights after Pelé’s death in 2022.
“There are no words to describe the emotion of bringing back a brand that embodies soul, humanity, and love. It’s priceless,” she told AFP.
The unveiling was accompanied by an emotional tribute at the Pelé Museum, which erected a massive green screen with Pelé’s iconic logo. A video shared on Pelé’s and NR Sports’ official accounts celebrated the “universal language” of Brazilian football, showing some of the King’s most memorable goals from his World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
Neymar Jr: ‘Pelé Was Born to Change Everything’
Neymar Jr, who recently returned to Pelé’s former club Santos and has surpassed the King as Brazil’s all-time top scorer, featured in a promotional video congratulating his father’s company.
“Some are born to play, others are born to change the game. Pelé was born to change everything,” the 33-year-old forward said. “Pelé never stopped being one of us, and now he is officially part of Brazil, again and forever.”
A New Era for an Underused Global Brand
For years, Pelé’s image rights were more prominently exploited abroad than at home—a situation that drew criticism from the family and Brazilian football circles. The new deal is expected to revitalise the Pelé brand through modern marketing, partnerships, and heritage initiatives anchored in Brazil.
“This is the beginning of a motivating project for us. We are very moved,” Neymar Sr added.
Pelé, who died in December 2022 at age 82, remains an enduring symbol in Santos, São Paulo state, where he played from 1956 to 1974 and where thousands still visit his mausoleum.
With the rights now back in Brazilian hands, NR Sports says the goal is clear: preserve, expand, and enrich the legacy of the King of Football for generations to come.
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Lionel Messi expressed his wish to one day return to Barcelona’s Camp Nou on Monday, having made a brief visit to see the newly revamped stadium where he spent 21 years of his illustrious career.
The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner, who joined Barca’s youth academy at age 13 and went on to become the club’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, left the Catalan side in 2021 when they could not make it financially viable to keep him.
Having won 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cups with Barca, Messi now plays for Inter Miami after two years with Paris St Germain.
Barca reopened the Camp Nou on Friday, 895 days after its closure, unveiling a revamped stadium by staging an open training session attended by 21,795 fans.
“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world,” the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner wrote on Instagram on Monday.
“I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”
Messi extended his contract with Inter Miami in October, and has previously said that the Major League Soccer club would likely be his last.
“You’re always welcome at your home, Leo,” Barca posted on X.
-Reuters
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Argentina has paid a powerful tribute to its greatest football icon, Diego Armando Maradona, by unveiling a special commemorative silver coin celebrating both the late legend’s 65th birthday and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The coin, released on October 30 — the date that would have marked Maradona’s 65th birthday — honours his unforgettable solo goal against England in the 1986 World Cup, often described as “the goal of the century.”
The Central Bank of Argentina announced that the limited-edition coin features a football motif on one side, while the reverse captures Maradona’s legendary dribble from his own half, past five English defenders, before coolly slotting the ball home in Mexico City.
That match, etched in global memory, also produced another of football’s most talked-about moments — the “Hand of God” goal, scored just minutes earlier. Together, those two goals defined not only a game but an era, as Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, their second in history.
“This coin immortalizes a symbol of Argentine pride — a goal that transcended sport to become a moment of national identity,” said the Central Bank in a statement.
The release is also timed to build excitement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada — marking 40 years since Maradona’s most celebrated tournament.
Maradona, who passed away in 2020, remains one of football’s most revered figures. His blend of artistry, audacity, and passion continues to inspire generations of players and fans alike.
Across Argentina, tributes poured in from fans, clubs, and former teammates, with many visiting murals, statues, and shrines dedicated to the No.10. In Buenos Aires, street musicians played “Live is Life” — the anthem that once accompanied Maradona’s famous pre-match warm-up routine at Napoli — as a reminder of his enduring magic.
For Argentina, this special-edition coin is more than a collector’s item; it is a national homage to an eternal legend, a man whose left foot and spirit still define the heartbeat of Argentine football.
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