Published By: Sayan Guha

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Record: Scoring Against 48 Nations, But 5 Teams Still Untouched

He’s always chasing something more, whether it's another record or just proving to himself that he can still do it

Cristiano Ronaldo's goal against Scotland in the Nations League 2024 was more than simply another stroke of brilliance from the Portuguese superstar. That goal brought his total number of international goals against 48 countries. Think about that for a second. His talent has benefited 48 different countries! It's a difficult number to grasp, but this is Ronaldo. For over two decades, this guy has made the unimaginable appear routine.

The Scotland showdown

Scotland was up 1-0, and the game was heating up. Ronaldo entered the game after halftime, eager to make an impact. And, of course, he does. CR7 shook the goalpost twice, demonstrating that he was not there just to fit in.But it wasn't until the closing minutes that he eventually scored, securing yet another record for him. This is his 901st career goal. Yes, 901! Moments like these remind us why he's more than a superb footballer; he's a constant force on the pitch.

The record, nobody, saw coming

Ronaldo's shot not only sealed Portugal's victory but also added another goal to his tally. He has now scored against 48 different countries. You might say he's tasted scoring success against over half of the world's football teams! He seems unstoppable. However, despite his enormous numbers, CR7 has been repelled by a few countries.

The top 5 teams Ronaldo hasn't scored against

Here's something that may surprise you: despite scoring against so many teams, Ronaldo has yet to score against a few countries. Intrigued? Let's have a peek at the elusive five.

England

Here's the twist: Ronaldo has scored against England, but not during regular play. He has scored twice in penalty shootouts, but what about in regular match play? Nada. It's surprising, given that he's played three matches against the Three Lions, all of which ended in draws after 90 minutes.

Uruguay

Ah, Uruguay. Ronaldo felt he had cracked it at the 2022 World Cup when he celebrated what he thought was a goal. However, Bruno Fernandes was credited with the goal. Bad luck.

Brazil

Brazil is the biggest name on this list. Ronaldo has faced them three times but has yet to score. And, given that he hasn't played against them since the 2010 World Cup, it appears doubtful that he'll get another chance.

Chile

Ronaldo's sole match against Chile was in the 2017 Confederations Cup, in which Portugal lost 3-0 on penalties after 120 minutes of goalless play. This was not exactly a high point for Ronaldo.

Mexico

Another game from the 2017 Confederations Cup saw Portugal draw 2-2 with Mexico. Ronaldo performed well but scored no goals, as did Ricardo Quaresma and Cedric Soares.

A few nations CR7 loves scoring against

While some countries have managed to keep Ronaldo at bay, others have been less fortunate. In fact, a few countries have effectively become his target playgrounds:

Luxembourg – 8 goals
Lithuania – 7 goals
Sweden – 7 goals
Andorra – 6 goals
Armenia – 5 goals
Latvia – 5 goals

So, there you have it: 48 nations down, and 5 remain unaffected by CR7's goal-scoring abilities. But knowing Ronaldo, it's just a matter of time until he discovers a method to overcome those obstacles. After all, he is a man who isn't happy with simply being great. He's constantly looking for something more, whether it's a new record or merely demonstrating to himself that he can still do it.