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Ronaldo claims European goal record

Ronaldo claims European goal record

The Portugal superstar set another record in his stellar career by grabbing European goal number 78 against Roberto Di Matteo's men.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the all-time leading goalscorer in European competition after netting twice in Real Madrid's Champions League tie with Schalke at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

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Ronaldo pulled clear of Barcelona rival Lionel Messi and former Madrid team-mate Raul when he nodded home Toni Kroos' right-wing corner in the 25th minute.

And he moved further ahead with another goal on the stroke of half-time, rising highest at the far post to power in Fabio Coentrao's excellent left-wing centre.

His goals were both equalisers after Schalke had twice led on the night through efforts from Christian Fuchs and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who found the net later on to give his side a 4-3 win on the night.

However, Madrid progressed to the next round thanks to a 2-0 win over the Gelsenkirchen outfit in the first leg in Germany.

Ronaldo netted in the first leg of the last-16 clash last month to draw level with Argentina attacker Messi and former Spain skipper Raul on 76 strikes in Europe overall. Messi will get the chance to reclaim the record when Barca meet Manchester City at Camp Nou next week.

Raul needed 168 games with Real and Schalke to reach 76 goals, while Ronaldo required just 117 and Messi only 95 to hit the same number.

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Ronaldo and Messi are also now level with 75 goals in the Champions League, with Raul's long-standing record of 71 now relegated to third place.

Ronaldo's 78 overall is made up of 75 Champions League strikes, one in the competition's qualifiers which does not count in his overall tally for the tournament and two in the Uefa Super Cup against Sevilla back in August.

Messi, meanwhile, has scored 75 of his 76 in the Champions League, with the other coming in Barca's Uefa Super Cup success against Porto in 2011.

Credit: Goal.com

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