Following his superb display against Switzerland on Wednesday, in which he booked his country a spot in the UEFA Nations League final, hat-trick hero Cristiano Ronaldo set an incredible new world record.
The Portuguese striker netted all three goals in A Selecao’s 3-1 over Switzerland and was named Man of the Match for his superb performance. His first goal gave his side the lead through a superbly taken direct free-kick, before deciding the game with two late goals in the second half, after the Nati had levelled matters.
As a consequence, Switzerland became the 38 national team Ronaldo has now found the back of the net against. In addition, he took his tally to 88 goals at international level, but it was his first strike that saw him set a new world record.
The 34-year-old has now scored in 10 different international tournaments, becoming the first player in history to do so after going one clear of Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan, who was the first player to net at nine major tournaments for his country.
Ronaldo started his exploits at the 2004 UEFA European Championship on home soil, where he netted twice, before adding one strike at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, one at the 2008 Euro, another at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, three at the 2012 Euro, one at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, three in his side’s triumph at the 2016 Euro, two at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, three in last year’s World Cup and now three at the inaugural UEFA Nations League finals.
Gyan, meanwhile, netted at the World Cups in 2006, 2010 and 2014, plus at the African Cup of Nations in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017.
Ronaldo’s Portugal will now await the winner of the second semi-final between England and Netherlands on Thursday night.
Source: soccerladuma
