The night Ronaldo saved the Seleção (again) and broke the international goal-scoring record | OneFootball

Portugal 2-1 Ireland, 2021, revisited

On Saturday night Portugal hope to take another step towards securing their place at the 2026 World Cup as they host Ireland in Lisbon, seeking a third straight victory in qualifying Group F.

The match-up evokes memories of the last time the two nations met in a competitive game on Portuguese soil, in September 2021.

Still under the guidance of Fernando Santos, the Seleção welcomed the Republic of Ireland and their always vocal and numerous legion of fans to the Algarve Stadium.

And it was Irish eyes that were smiling for most of the ninety minutes.

Bazunu thwarts Ronaldo from the spot

Cristiano Ronaldo’s evening did not get off to a good start as his 15th-minute penalty was saved by teenage goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. It got worse for the hosts as John Egan’s header on the stroke of half time gave the Irish a shock lead.

Portugal swarmed forward in search of an equaliser but were repelled by a well-organised visiting defence and an inspired performance from the young Bazunu, playing in the most high-profile match of his career to date.

But as has happened countless times over the past two decades, it was that man Cristiano Ronaldo who saved the day for the Seleção, in spectacular fashion.

Double header

In the final minute of regular time, good wing play by substitute Gonçalo Guedes ended with a pinpoint cross onto the head of the captain, who headed low into the corner of the net to avert a shock defeat and break Irish hearts.

But Ronaldo wasn’t finished yet.

Six minutes into stoppage time, the captain was again the beneficiary of an assist from a substitute as he rose magnificently to thump João Mario’s cross into the net for the winning header, triggering an ecstatic reaction from the home supporters and the Portugal players.

Ronaldo ripped off his shirt and held it aloft, displaying his name, happy to take the subsequent yellow card. The effusive celebrations were not only because of the late victory. It was a goal that once again wrote Cristiano Ronaldo’s name into the history books in golden letters.

The Madeiran phenomenon had finally risen to the top of the list of all-time international goalscorers, his two goals taking his tally to 111 to overtake Iranian striker Ali Daei as the top scorer of all time.

“Great players are like this,” said Fernando Santos after the match. “Even when things are not going well for them or for the team, they come up with the goods. This is Ronaldo. He’s always making history.”

Ronaldo holds his shirt aloft and takes the adulation from the Algarve crowd

Santos leaves, Ronaldo goes on, and on, and on...

Portugal eventually needed a playoff to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals, although a bust-up between Ronaldo and Santos dominated the narrative of the Seleção’s journey in Qatar.

Santos was subsequently relieved of his duties, while Ronaldo continued to confound his doubters who speculated that his international career may have come to an end.

Four years on, and Ronaldo has added a further 30 goals to his total for Portugal, amassing a barely believable 141 goals at the time of writing.

Whatever number he ends up on, it is a good bet that it will never be beaten, but there will always be a special place in his memory bank for that balmy September night in the Algarve in 2021.

Ronaldo received the match ball in a special trophy from FPF head Fernando Gomes to mark the record after the match