Cristiano Ronaldo's UEFA Euro Stats and Records

Portugal's football legend Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for scoring the most goals in the Euros. Here are some of Cristiano Ronaldo's UEFA Euro stats and records

Cristiano Ronaldo's UEFA Euro Stats and Records

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo played in six Euros and is the all-time top goalscorer of this competition. He won the tournament with his country in 2016 and created many records in the six editions he featured for his country. Most of the records Ronaldo created in Euro Cup history are quite unbreakable. Below are some of Cristiano Ronaldo's UEFA Euro Stats and Records.

Cristiano Ronaldo | Top Goalscorer of UEFA Euros

Ronaldo in six Euros has scored 14 goals in 30 games for Portugal. He went past Michel Platini's record of 9 goals in 2020. Sadly, he could not add any goals to his tally in the 2024 edition. 

Here are the players with the most goals in Euros

  • 14: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
  • 9: Michel Platini (France)
  • 7: Antoine Griezmann (France), Alan Shearer (England), Alvaro Morata (Spain)

Read more about the all-time Top Goalscorers of UEFA Euros

Cristiano Ronaldo's UEFA Euro Stats by Editions

Euro 2004

Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut in the 2004 UEFA Euro edition

Cristiano Ronaldo made his first appearance at the Euro finals tournament in 2004 in Portugal and impressed everyone with his abilities, scoring in matches against Greece and the Netherlands.

But, Portugal suffered a huge defeat to underdogs Greece in the final, narrowly missing out on becoming champions of Europe, but Ronaldo was named in UEFA’s team of the tournament. 

Ronaldo in the 2004 Euro

  • 2 goals 
  • 2 assists 
  • Team Of The Tournament

Euro 2008

Ronaldo in 2008 Euro Cup - sportzpoint.com

Cristiano became the Portugal captain four years later but he couldn't play his best football in the 2008 edition, with his team exiting in the last eight against Germany. Ronaldo scored once and provided two assists in a group-stage win over Czechia.

Ronaldo in the 2008 Euro

  • 1 goal 
  • 1 assist 

Euro 2012

Cristiano Ronaldo At His Best — EURO 2012: Portugal 2–1 Netherlands | by Om  Arvind | Medium

The Euro 2012 tournament saw Ronaldo back at his best. Portugal qualified for the knockouts from a group of death, helped by Ronaldo’s double against the Netherlands, followed by a goal in the quarter-final win against Czechia. Unfortunately, Spain knocked Portugal out on penalties in the semi-finals.

Ronaldo in the 2012 Euro

  • 3 goals (Joint Top Scorer)
  • Team Of The Tournament

Euro 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo UEFA Euro Stats and Records - sportzpoint.com
Ronaldo won the Euro Cup in 2016.

In the Euro 2016, Ronaldo failed to score in either of the first two group matches and missed a penalty against Austria. However, he scored a brace in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Hungary and then led Portugal to the final, scoring against Wales in the last four. 

Ronaldo scored twice against Hungary in the 2016 Euros
Ronaldo scored twice against Hungary in the 2016 Euros | Image: rex features

He sustained an injury in the Euro 2016 final against France and had to be replaced in the first half, but Portugal won the trophy, courtesy of an extra-time goal from Eder. Once again, Ronaldo was named in the team of the tournament for a record third time.

Ronaldo in the 2016 Euro

  • 3 goals (Silver Boot) 
  • 3 assists
  • Team of The Tournament

Euro 2020

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Euro 2020 Golden Boot - ESPN

The Euro 2020 didn't go as Ronaldo hoped it to. Portugal were knocked out by Belgium in the last 16, but Ronaldo scored five goals in four games to secure what is surely his most coveted record – the all-time top European Championship scorer. 

He scored twice against Hungary in the group stage to surpass Platini’s record and become the oldest player to score twice in a Euros match. He then netted two more in a draw with France and added a goal and an assist in a 4-2 loss to Germany.

Ronaldo won the Euro Golden Boot for his five goals that year.

Ronaldo in the 2020 Euro

  • 5 goals (Golden Boot)
  • 1 assist

Euro 2024

Portugal vs France UEFA Euro 2024 Quarter-Final Live Updates | Ronaldo misses a chance in the extra time - Portugal vs France UEFA Euro 2024 Quarter-Final Live Updates - sportzpoint.com

Perhaps Ronaldo's worst Euro competition by numbers was his last Euro Cup in 2024 in Germany. Ronaldo, despite playing in five games failed to score any goals and was one of the lowest-rated Portuguese players in the tournament as well. The 39-year-old had 23 shots attempted throughout the tournament but failed to score from those shots.

However, he was successful in penalty shootouts in their round of 16 and quarter-final matches but had to take an exit from the tournament after getting knocked out by France in the last eight. It was Ronaldo's first Euro competition without any goals.

Ronaldo in the Euro 2024

  • 0 goals
  • 0 assist

Read Also: UEFA Euro 2024: Top scorers of every Euro Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo's Euros Stats and Records

Cristiano Ronaldo's Euros Stats and Records - sportzpoint.com

  • Ronaldo has the most Euros matches with a goal (10) and the most tournament games (four) with at least two goals scored.
  • He is also the only player to score at least three goals at three separate Euro tournaments and is also the player of most events with at least two goals scored (four tournaments).
  • Ronaldo also holds the record for scoring in the most number of editions (five), with no other player scoring a goal in more than three Euro editions.
  • The Portuguese legend holds the record for appearing at the most tournaments (six).
  • He has made the most match appearances (30) in Euros history, spending 2,641 minutes on the pitch, which is also a record.
  • He has won more games (12) than any other player.
  • Ronaldo has represented his country as captain 21 times in the finals, a record in this competition.
  • He also holds the honour of featuring among both the oldest and youngest scorers in European Championship history.

Ronaldo has owned every record except only one. He has never scored a hat-trick in the Euros. Only eight players have scored a hat-trick in tournament history and Ronaldo was not been able to be on that list.

Cristiano Ronaldo's overall stats in the Euro Cup

Matches Goals Assists Yellow cards Minutes played Trophy
30 14 10 4 2,641 1

 

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Portugal vs Poland UEFA Nations League: Preview, Head to Head, Permutations and State of Play

As the UEFA Nations League resumes Sportz Point brings you all the talking points to look out for in a game that promises to nothing short of exciting.

Muojindu Francis

Nov 14, 2024, 2:32 PM

Portugal vs Poland UEFA Nations League: Preview, Head to Head, Permutations and State of Play

Portugal will pay host to the Polish team in the UEFA Nationes League group game on the 15th of November 2024 at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto at 1.15 AM IST.

The hosts currently sit at the top of group 1 in League A recording 3 wins and 1 draw from four matches currently played and they will have the chance to extend their lead if they secure a crucial win against Poland.

However, the same cannot be said for Poland. The team has managed one win out of  4 matches and they sit 3rd in the group only above Scotland. It remains to be seen if Michal Probierz can change the fortune of the team moving foward.

Read Also| Belgium vs Italy UEFA Nations League: Where to watch, Previous records, Head-to-head stats

Match Details

Match: Portugal vs Poland

Date: 15 November 2024

Time: 1:15 AM IST

Venue: Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal

Read Also| UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin hits back amid controversy over excessive number of matches

Streaming Details

Indian viewers can stream the game live on the SonyLIV app and website. The TV broadcast will be on Sony Sports Network channels.

Head-to-head Stats

Matches Played: 9

Portugal wins: 4

Poland wins: 2

Draws: 3

Read Also| Most goal contributions so far in Europe's top 5 leagues this season

Previous Records

Portugal and Poland have faced each other 9 times. Portugal have recorded more wins as they have won 4 times in this fixture. Poland has won twice. The other 3 matches ended in a draw, with the last meeting between these two teams in October 2024. 

Read Also| Substitutions that changed the football history

Match Prediction

Portugal has a significant advantage going into games because they are the host team, which is another factor that contributes to the odds being stacked in their favour. 

It will be very tough for the Polish players to control Portugal since, on paper, they are a stronger and more balanced team with speedy forwards who can take advantage of gaps and excellent midfield players that have the capacity to maintain pressure.

Team News and Injury Update

Robert Lewandoski has been ruled out of this fixture it will be difficult to for Poland to make an impact in attack with his absence considering that he is their most prolific goal threat.

Portugal is not missing any key player heading into this fixture and this will present the perfect opportunity to improve their standing on the table.

Possible Starting XI's 

Portugal

Diogo Costa(GK), Dalot, Dias, Goncalo Inacio, Nuno Mendes, Bernado Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Palhinha, Neto, Ronaldo, Leao

Poland

Martin Bulka(GK), Kiwior, Bednarek, Piatkowski, Zaleweski, Zelinski, Moder, Szymanski, Frankowski, Urbanski, Piatek

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Substitutions that changed the football history

From Gareth Bale to Mario Gotze, there have been many instances of substitutions that changed football history. In this article, Sportzpoint explores those legendary substitutions.

Substitutions that changed the football history

Players who earn a place in the starting eleven crash into the headlines mostly, but those who come off the bench are never insignificant. Depending on the situation and for various other tactical and strategic moves, substitute players can make huge differences when things start getting tough on the pitch. 

Sportzpoint explores the greatest substitutions that changed the football history and remained folkloric.

Mario Gotze

(Germany vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup Final 2014)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Wikipedia)

Mario Gotze lived the dream of every footballer back in 2014 when he scored the only goal against Argentina in the Final to take Germany to their fourth World Cup glory

Gotze came off the bench replacing the legendary Miroslav Klose, only two minutes before the full-time whistle but the game ended goalless. However, in the 113 minute of AET, Gotze received Schurrle's pass on the left and from a close range to the goal; and his left-footed strike fooled Argentina keeper Romero to end up in the goal. 

Argentina could not bounce back from this late setback and Germany lifted the World Cup 2014. Mario Gotze's substitution remained one of the most impactful in the history of football. 

Gareth Bale

(Real Madrid vs Liverpool, UCL Final 2017-18)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com

Gareth Bale admitted in an interview with FourFourTwo that he was very frustrated after not getting a start for Real Madrid in the 2017-18 UCL Final against Liverpool. However, Bale's fallout with Real Madrid's then-manager Zinedine Zidane led us to experience one of the greatest substitutions in the Champions League's history.

After a goalless first half, Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the 51st minute; but Sadio Mane only took 4 minutes to equalize for Liverpool. In the 61st minute, Bale replaced Isco but who would have thought that the Welshman was going to rewrite history and all by himself? 

Only 3 minutes after Bale came on, Marcelo's cross found him in the box and Bale produced an acrobatic overhead volley, and the ball ended up in the net. Bale sealed the victory for Madrid in the 83rd minute with a rocketed strike which made Liverpool keeper Karius fumble and the ball went inside. Coming off the bench, Gareth Bale scored this heroic brace to lead Real Madrid to win their third consecutive UCL title.

Eder

(Portugal vs France, EURO 2016 Final)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com

Eder became an overnight sensation after slotting a late strike to win Portugal the EURO 2016, their first-ever major trophy in history

France and Portugal both wasted opportunities in the full-time but things became very wrong for Portugal way before. In the 25th minute, the talisman Cristiano Ronaldo faced a rough challenge from Dimitri Payet, and he was subbed off injured. However, Eder came off the bench in the 79th minute of the Final but the 90-minute of play ended in a stalemate of a 0-0 scoreline.

But it was Eder, who only played 13 minutes in the tournament, stepped up and broke the deadlock to score the only goal in the final in the 109th minute. France could not produce a comeback as Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo lifted their first-ever major international trophy.

Ilkay Gundogan

(Manchester City vs Aston Villa, 2021-22 Premier League)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com

It was a neck-to-neck battle between Manchester City and Liverpool in the 2021-22 Premier League title race. Before heading into the last matchday on 22 May 2022, Manchester City was atop the table with 90 points in 37 matches and Liverpool was positioned just behind with 89 points in the same number of games.

Manchester City was set to face Aston Villa in the last match of the season and a win would ensure their fourth consecutive PL title. However, things did not go as planned for Pep Guardiola's men as Matty Cash scored for Villa in the 37th minute, and Philippe Coutinho extended the lead in the 69th minute. Coincidentally, Ilkay Gundogan replaced Bernardo Silva just one minute before Villa's second goal. Man City's title contender Liverpool was playing Wolves at the same time and they were held to a 1-1 draw after 70 minutes.

What happened afterward will always be written in golden words in the Premier League's history. It was Ilkay Gundogan who scored City's first goal in the 76th minute as his powerful header went in. Just two minutes later, Rodri placed a powerful strike to level the scoreline by 2-2 and City was back on top of the table.

It did not take much time for Gundogan to score his second and City's third as he put the ball inside with a close-range tap-in to almost win the league for City! The match eventually ended as City won the game by 3-2 and clinched their fourth consecutive PL title, all thanks to the German's magic after coming off the bench. 

Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 

(Manchester United vs Bayern Munich, 1998-99 UCL Final)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com

The world witnessed one of the greatest UCL finals ever on 27 May 1999 when Manchester United and Bayern Munich faced off for the coveted glory. Manchester United won the game by 2-1 in such an otherworldly manner that it still mesmerizes the next generation, and everything happened because of two substitute players, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Bayern Munich took an early by scoring in the 6th minute of the match. Manchester United could not break the deadlock and headed into the break trailing 0-1. Teddy Sheringham replaced Jesper Blomqvist in the 67th minute and Solskjaer was brought in by Sir Alex Ferguson to replace Andy Cole in the 81st minute. 

The game was in favour of Bayern even after 90 minutes but Sheringham slotted the ball home in just one minute into the injury time to equalize for the Red Devils. Solskjaer achieved the final glory with a simple tap-in only after two minutes, and thus the two substitutes led United to the Champions League victory.

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UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin hits back amid controversy over excessive number of matches

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin responds to the criticism of football fixtures consisting of too many matches and calls it a 'vicious cycle'.

(Image Courtesy | UEFA.com)

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin responded to recent criticism of footballers playing an excessive number of matches and warned that reducing the number of matches can result in less revenue and lower wages for the players.

According to The Sun, the UEFA President stated:

"When we say that footballers are modern gladiators, we are exaggerating a bit. The better the footballer, the bigger the star, the more protected he is by the referees, who are also constantly in the fans' teeth."

"It is true that the players play a lot and that the match calendar could not be more full."

"But I would not agree that only those at the highest level are the most burdened. The players from my country, Slovenia, play as often as, for example, those from Real Madrid. Except that they are paid 500 times less."

"If we were to reduce the number of matches, we would end up with the result that the salaries of football players would also fall because the clubs would have less income."

"It's a vicious cycle. The compromise is that no new competitions are introduced."

Ceferin sparked controversy after the General Assembly of the European Clubs Association, held in October 2024, where he stated that only the high-paid players expressed dissatisfaction, while those who earn less did not make any public statement regarding the issue. 

The European calendar of football and its unbalance were discussed in the assembly though Ceferin admitted that the schedule in congested and reached the maximum limit. 

The long-growing displeasure

UEFA and FIFA had already been slammed by footballers and coaches about the increasing number of games per season.

UEFA faced severe criticism after introducing the UEFA Nations League, back in 2018 with a new format including promotion and relegation. Controversies started hovering as various theories suggested this tournament to be a series of friendlies branded into a tournament to generate more revenue for UEFA. 

The Nations League matches are played during the international breaks when European teams used to feature in friendlies or take part in the qualifiers matches. 

However, many prominent footballers and managers did not welcome the idea of this new tournament. Following the 2021 UEFA Nations League third-place play-off match between Italy and Belgium on 10 October 2021, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois publicly criticized FIFA and UEFA in the post-match interview with Sky Sports:

"This game is just a money game and we have to be honest about it,"

"We just play it because for UEFA it's extra money.

"They can be angry about other teams wanting a Super League but they don't care about the players, they just care about their pockets.

"It's a bad thing that players are not spoken about. And now you hear about a European Championship and a World Cup every year, when will we get a rest? Never."

"So in the end top players will get injured and injured and injured. It's something that should be much better and much more taken care of,

"We are not robots! It's just more and more games and less rest for us and nobody cares about us."

Former Germany coach Hansi Flick addressed his concern about the increasing number of matches in a press conference on 10 June 2022. Flick responded to a question:

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin hits back amid controversy over excessive number of matches-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Football365)

"This should be looked at and we need to ask ourselves how we can offer players a break because that is important,"

"UEFA or FIFA should look into these things and take some measures."

In a very recent interview ahead of Belgium's clash against Israel in the Nations League in September 2024, Courtois' national team-mate Kevin De Bruyne addressed the same issue along with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to be played in 2025.

"The real problem will emerge after the Club World Cup...We know there will be only three weeks between the Club World Cup final and the first Premier League match. So, we have three weeks to rest and prepare for another 80 matches,"

"The issue is that UEFA and Fifa keep adding extra matches, and we can raise concerns, but no solutions have been found. It seems that money speaks louder than the players' voices"

via Reuters

Criticism and legal actions regarding the expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025

The FIFA Club World 2025 will introduce an expanded format that will feature 32 participating teams competing for the glory. This new tournament has further increased the number of matches in a season and resulted in grievances from prominent players and managers.

2024 Ballon d'Or winner and Manchester City's midfielder Rodri expressed his concern about the excessive number of games and said that every player should have an optimum number of matches to play every season.

"From my experience I can tell you that 60-70 [is no good]. Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform in the highest level. After that you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level."

"This year we can go to 70, maybe 80, I don’t know. It depends how far you go in the competitions. It is too much. We have to take care of ourselves. Someone has to take care of ourselves because we are the main characters of this sport or business or whatever you want to call it."

via The Guardian

However, this long-growing cold war between the players or officials and the governing bodies has now turned into a legal battle

The tension emerged when FIFPro, the worldwide players' union, and the European Leagues, which represents 37 domestic leagues submitted a legal claim against FIFA on 13 June 2024, "challenging the legality of FIFA's decisions to unilaterally set the International Match Calendar and, in particular, the decision to create and schedule the FIFA Club World Cup 2025."

Here is the official legal claim.

 

At the European Commission in Brussels On 14 October 2024, the protesting bodies jointly filed a legal complaint against FIFA over FIFA's imposition on match calendars. 

Check the official legal complaint here.

The third international break of the year has already started and the players are on their national duties. But the question remains, will there be any change regarding this distressing issue?

Next Article

The most shocking goal misses in Football history

From legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the new superstars of football, there have been many distressing goal misses that remain iconic and unforgettable. Sportzpoint explores the most shocking goal misses in Football history.

The most shocking goal misses in Football history

Football is a sport full of drama, distress, excitement, and unforgettable moments that are cherished from generation to generation. Goals are the highlighting factor that decides the fate of a team and that is why the near-misses leave the fans in agony and sometimes change the course of football's history.

These fumbles in front of the goal are surprising and unexpected at the same moment. In this article, we delve into the most shocking misses in football history.

Erling Haaland 

(Manchester City vs Liverpool, 2022 FA Community Shield Final)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com

The Norwegian goal-machine emerged as an absolute cheat-code for Manchester City since his move to Man City in 2022. However, he came to England as and promising youngster but faced criticism from fans after his open goal miss in his very first match for Manchester City in the FA Community Shield Final on 30 July 2022 against Liverpool.

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com

Phil Foden unleashed a left-footed strike in the seventh minute of injury time and it was denied by Liverpool keeper Adrian, but Erling Haaland wasted an open chance to score from the second ball as he hit the crossbar from a close range to the goal. Liverpool won the game by 3-1.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

(PSG vs Strasbourg, Ligue 1 2018-19)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Squawka Live)

The Cameroonian International featured for teams such as Bayern Munich and Paris-Saint Germain, and he was a part of the PSG squad who were runner-ups in the UCL 2019-20. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also scored the winner in injury time against Atalanta in the quarter-final of the same UCL campaign.

However, Choupo-Moting got down in history for a bizarre instance in a 2-2 draw against Strasbourg in Ligue 1 during his first season with the French side. Christopher Nkunku successfully chipped the opponent keeper with a shot that was about to go in, but Choupo-Moting somehow stopped the shot on the line in an attempt to tap it in, but his intervention led the threat to get cleared. 

Neal Maupay

(Brentford vs Cardiff City, EFL Championship 2017-18)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Wales Online)

Neal Maupay, the French forward who spent most of his career in England, joined Brentford in 2017 and went on to be a headline for his incredible open-goal miss against Cardiff City in the 2017-18 EFL Championship. 

The golden opportunity emerged as Ollie Watkins won the possession in front of the box by beating Sean Morrison in a duel and he fooled the keeper to pass it to Maupay, who only had an open goal in front of him.

However, Maupay took some time to slot it home as defender Sol Bamba ran onto the goal-line to stop the shot. Surprisingly, Maupay did not let Bamba do anything as he fired it inches off the post. Brentford eventually lost the game by 0-2.

Cristiano Ronaldo

(Manchester United vs Sheffield United, Premier League 2006-07)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Sheffield Star)

Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the greatest footballer ever, also finds himself on this unfortunate list. The dreaded Portuguese netted the most goals in football history, although his unbelievable miss came in his early days at Old Trafford. Ronaldo wasted this open-scoring chance during a Premier League game against Sheffield United in 2006.

A sublime backheel by Wayne Rooney opened a space in front of the box for the Red Devils as Ryan Giggs intercepted the pass before cutting a grounder through Sheffield's defence. The ball comfortably found Cristiano Ronaldo but his strike flew over the crossbar from a very close distance to the goal.

Lionel Messi 

(Argentina vs Trinidad and Tobago, Friendly, 2014)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com

Lionel Messi, the other footballer who is arguably considered the greatest footballer of all-time, has also entered this fateful list due to his unbelievable blunder for Argentina against Trinidad and Tobago on 4 June 2014, prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 

Angel Di Maria fired into the opponent box and released a comfortable pass before the ball could cross the goal-line, but Messi failed to respond quickly as the defender cleared the ball from in front of an open goal before even Messi could intercept.

Randal Kolo Muani

(France vs Argentina, 2022 FIFA World Cup Final)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com

This wasted scoring opportunity changed Argentina's football history as Argentina lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup by beating France in penalties, following an unnerving 3-3 draw after extra time. 

The 120-minute Final showcased a brilliant display of football ending in a 3-3 draw between France and Argentina, before going down to penalties to decide the world champion. However, France could have snatched the World Cup if Randal Kolo Muani was not denied by Emiliano Martinez in the last minute of the game.

A lobbed pass was intercepted by Kolo Muani in front of Argentina's box as Nicolas Otamendi failed to intercept, but Kolo Muani's first-touch attempt was denied by Argentina keeper Emiliano Martine who stretched his leg to stop the shot. Only 47 seconds were left before the final whistle! This miss will remain iconic for the heroic save by Emi rather than the blunder by Kolo Muani.

Fernando Torres 

(Chelsea vs Manchester United, Premier League 2011-12)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Footy Accumulators)

Fernando Torres was arguably the top striker in the world in and around 2007 to 2010. Chelsea broke the British transfer record to acquire the Spaniard from Liverpool in January 2011. Somehow, 'El Nino' failed to replicate his Liverpool performance at Stamford Bridge, and his disappointing tenure with the Blues was highlighted by a moment during a match against Manchester United in September 2011.

Torres already scored the only goal for his team but Chelsea was behind 3-1. In the 83rd minute, Ramires played a beautiful through that cut the United defense open in half. Torres intercepted the ball and managed to ease past David de Gea with a skillful feint, having an open goal in front of him.

However, Torres surprisingly shot the ball wide of the post and missed the golden chance which went down as one of the worst misses in the Premier League history.

Yakubu Ayegbeni

(Nigeria vs South Korea, FIFA World Cup 2010)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Afrosport)

Nigeria faced South Korea in a do-or-die match after two consecutive defeats in the Group stage of FIFA World Cup 2010, and Yakubu Ayegbeni crashed the headlines but not quite for the right reasons.

Midfielder Yusuf Ayila delivered a ball right into the six-yard box where Ayegbeni received the pass, but he missed the absolute sitter from inches close to the goal. The match eventually ended in a 2-2 draw and Nigeria finished at the bottom of the group.

Ilija Sivonjic

(Dinamo Zagreb vs Cibalia Vinkovci, HNK 2006)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Vecernji)

Croatian footballer Ilija Sivonjic's open miss in 2006 for Dinamo Zagreb against Cibalia is widely considered one of the worst misses in football history. 

In the 33rd minute of the game, one of his Dinamo teammates slotted the ball on target. Although it went past the opposition keeper, it was stopped by Sivonjic who attempted a backheel to tap it in. The ball inexplicably bounced off the goal line and one of the Cibalia defenders sent it out of play. 

Ronny Rosenthal

(Liverpool vs Aston Villa, 1996)

The most shocking goal misses in Football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image credit | Birmingham Live)

Ronny Rosenthal started his Liverpool career very well, scoring 7 goals in his first 8 games. He even scored a hat-trick in his first game against Charlton. However, he couldn't keep up this great form later.

In 1992 during Pool's PL encounter against Aston Villa, Rosenthal wasted a golden opportunity to score. Rosenthal intercepted a long ball from David James and dribbled past the goalkeeper, but misfired his left-footed strike to hit the crossbar. This miss is still remembered as one of the worst misses in Premier League history.

Rosenthal later joked about this famous miss and said:

"Does it bother me? No it doesn't matter now. I'm glad it happened!

"I'm glad I missed because I'm still on the map [because of it]."

via Birmingham Live

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Players with the Most Hat-tricks in International football (Male and Female)

Many players have made their mark on the national team by scoring remarkable goals that have helped their countries succeed. In this article, Sportz Point discusses the players with the most hat trick goals in International football.

Muojindu Francis

Nov 8, 2024, 4:11 PM

USA's Alex Morgan in action for her country

Various international women's football players have cemented themselves in history books by achieving remarkable records. At the forefront is Canada's Christine Sinclair, an iconic figure in women's football

This collection of players and their impressive accomplishments underscore the development of women's football and the extraordinary talent that has emerged within the sport over the years. Let’s take a closer look at these stellar performers

Read Also: Real Madrid's Top 5 most expensive signings of all time

Babra Bander: Zambia- 7 

Babra Banda of Zambia at the Olympics- Sportz Point.com

From the streets of Lusaka to the global stage, Barbra Banda’s journey is a testament to determination and raw talent. Born in Zambia’s capital, Banda started playing football at the tender age of seven. But her early sporting prowess wasn’t confined to just football.

Inspired by renowned Zambian boxer Catherine Phiri, Banda also dabbled in boxing at 14, quickly making a name for herself. She dominated the amateur scene, and after winning every bout and seeing other fighters hesitant to face her, Banda turned professional, where she won all five of her matches. However, football eventually took center stage in her life.

In October 2018, Banda signed with Spain's first division club, EDF Logroño, becoming the first Zambian woman to play football in Europe. Her career continued to soar when, in March 2024, she joined the Orlando Pride in the United States, signing a four-year contract that would keep her with the club until 2027.

Her impact on the international stage began early. Banda played for Zambia’s U-17 women’s team at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, turning 14 during the tournament. Two years later, on March 6, 2016, she made her senior team debut in a Women’s Nations Cup qualifier against Namibia.

The peak of her career came at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Banda captained the Zambian national team as they made their debut appearance at the prestigious tournament. She became the first woman to score consecutive hat-tricks in Olympic history, netting three goals in a 3-10 loss to the Netherlands, she scored another three in a 4-4 draw against China. These performances also made her the first woman to score two hat-tricks in a single Olympic tournament.

Read Also: I didn't set a date or a deadline": Lionel Messi hints at retirement after hat-trick against BoliviaFIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

Michelle Akers: United States of America- 7

The name Michelle Akers is synonymous with U.S. women’s soccer dominance. With seven career hat-tricks, Akers helped the U.S. win the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup, leading the tournament with 10 goals, including five in a single game.

Her leading the team was crucial to the U.S. women's team securing its first-ever world title, and she later played a vital role in the 1999 World Cup and 1996 Olympics victories. 

Akers was also the lead scorer in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in China in 1991. The U.S. women's team defeated Norway 2–1 in the final with Akers scoring both goals.

Ali Al-Biski: Libya - 7

Ali Al-Biski, a former Libyan footballer, played as a striker and holds the record as Libya's all-time top scorer despite the nation’s limited participation in FIFA events during his time. He led the Libyan Premier League in scoring twice—first in 1965 with Al-Madina SC, and again in 1968 with Al Ahli Tripoli. He recorded seven hat-tricks for the national team.

Pelé: Brazil - 7

Pele has scored 757 goals in his footballing career

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously known as Pelé, was a Brazilian forward and a football icon, widely hailed as one of the greatest players in history. With a Guinness World Record for 1,279 goals in 1,363 games (including friendlies), Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the IOC in 1999 and featured in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century. He debuted for Santos at 15 and for Brazil at 16, winning three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and scoring seven hat-tricks for Brazil.

Sándor Kocsis: Hungary - 7

Sándor Kocsis, a Hungarian striker, played for Ferencvárosi TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, and FC Barcelona. After relocating to Spain post-1956 Hungarian Revolution, Kocsis joined Barcelona’s squad. He led the 1954 World Cup with a record 11 goals, scoring 23 times for Hungary that year—a single-year record. Kocsis was also the first player to achieve two hat-tricks in a World Cup.

Cristiane: Brazil- 8

Cristian of Brazil in one of her numerous appearances for the country- Sportz Point.com

Brazilian forward Cristiane stands alongside the greats, boasting eight hat-tricks throughout her career. A prolific goal scorer, she played a key role in Brazil's silver medal triumphs at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Cristiane has participated in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympics, with her most recent hat-trick coming in Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Jamaica at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ali Daei: Iran - 8

Ali dael  in his country's international colors- Sportz Point.com

Iranian striker and former national team captain, Ali Daei, was renowned as the world’s top scorer in official internationals per the IFFHS, netting 20 goals in 1996. During the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, he scored nine goals over 17 matches, amassing 38 goals in 52 appearances by that time. In 2004, he became the first male to score 100 international goals, reaching 102 with a four-goal game against Laos.

Gerd Müller: Germany - 8

Gerd Muller - UEFA Euro 1976 Top Scorer - sportzpoint.com

Gerd Müller, a prolific German striker known for his precision in the penalty area, is considered one of football’s top scorers. With West Germany, he scored 68 goals in 62 games. For Bayern Munich, he scored 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga matches and 65 goals in 74 European games, holding a league scoring record. Müller’s eight hat-tricks include two in the 1970 World Cup.

Poul Nielsen: Denmark - 8

Danish striker Poul Nielsen scored 52 goals in 38 games, sharing Denmark’s top-scoring record. He earned a silver medal at the 1912 Olympics and led Kjøbenhavns Boldklub (KB) to six Danish championships. Scoring eight hat-tricks in international play, Nielsen was an iconic figure for Denmark until his death in 1962.

Abby Wambach: United States of America- 8

American soccer Legend Abby doing an overhead kick- Sportz Point.com

Mary Abigail Wambach, born on June 2, 1980, is a retired American soccer player, coach, and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. A six-time recipient of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, Wambach was a key player for the U.S. women’s national team from 2003 to 2015.

She earned her first international cap in 2001 and, as a forward, became the highest all-time goal scorer for the U.S. national team. Globally, she ranks second in international goals for both men and women with 184 goals, trailing only Canada's Christine Sinclair.

Wambach competed in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: the 2003 edition in the U.S., the 2007 event in China, the 2011 tournament in Germany, and the 2015 competition in Canada. She also represented the U.S. in the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics.

Throughout these five major international tournaments, Wambach played 30 matches and netted 22 goals. She helped her team secure two Olympic gold medals, third-place finishes twice at the Women's World Cup, a second-place finish in 2011, and ultimately, a World Cup victory in 2015.

Read Also: FIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

Carli Lloyd: United States of America- 9

Retired female football veteran Carli holding a world cup trophy- Sportz Point.com

Carli Lloyd is another legend of international football, having represented the U.S. from 2012 to 2021. Over her remarkable career, she earned two Olympic gold medals (in 2008 and 2012) and won two FIFA Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. In addition, she was named FIFA Player of the Year twice, in 2015 and 2016, and competed in four Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021).

Lloyd’s capacity for rising to the occasion was evident when she scored the decisive goals in the gold medal matches of both the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She was also instrumental in the U.S. clinching World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, she also secured a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the US finished as runners-up.

Ali Mabkhout: UAE - 9

Ali Makhbout- Sportz Point.com

Ali Mabkhout, a forward for Al Nasr and the UAE national team, debuted with Al Jazira in 2009. A pivotal figure in UAE’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal win over Australia, he became UAE’s top scorer on October 10, 2019, with a hat-trick against Indonesia in a 5-0 victory.

Sven Rydell: Sweden- 9

Swedish striker Sven Rydell scored 49 goals in 43 matches, a record that stood for over 80 years until broken by Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2014. Rydell’s international career included a bronze medal at the 1924 Olympics, and he holds the Swedish record of nine international hat-tricks.

Vivian Woodward: England - 10

Vivian Woodward, an English forward, starred from the early 1900s to World War I, playing for Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. As Great Britain’s captain, he won gold at the 1908 and 1912 Olympics, recording six hat-tricks for England amateurs and four for England’s national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal- 10

Europe's Top International Goalscorers: Cristiano Ronaldo extends his lead-sportzpoint.com

At the age of 18, Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003. At UEFA Euro 2004, he scored his first international goal in a 2–1 group stage loss to Greece in his eighth international appearance.

In 2016, Ronaldo led Portugal to their first-ever trophy at the UEFA Euro 2016, although he was subbed off in the 25th minute in the final against hosts France.He received the Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer.

In the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match, in a 3–3 draw against Spain Cristiano Ronaldo became the first male player to score 10 hat-tricks for a national team on 12 October 2021 in Portugal's 5–0 win against Luxembourg, breaking Sven Rydell's record.

Lionel Messi:Argentina -10

Lionel Messi hints at retirement after hat-trick against Bolivia-sportzpoint.com

Lionel Messi debuted for Argentina’s U20 team in 2004 and won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. His senior debut came in 2005 at 18. In 2021, he ended Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought with a Copa América win. On October 15, 2024, Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Bolivia.

Christine Sinclair: Canada- 11

Former Canadian soccer captain Sinclaire celebrating a goal- Sportz Point.com

Christine Margaret Sinclair is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). From 2000 until her international retirement in 2023, she was a key member of the Canadian national team. 

Sinclair is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, CONCACAF champion, and has won the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award 14 times. She holds the world record for the most international goals scored by any player, male or female, with 190 goals and is among the most-capped players in international soccer, with 331 appearances.

In a career spanning more than two decades with the senior national team, Sinclair has competed in six FIFA Women's World Cups and four Olympic Football Tournaments, leading her team to bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, and to gold in 2020.

She is one of only three players to score in five different World Cup tournaments, alongside Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2022, Sinclair was honored with the Best FIFA Special Award for her achievement as the world’s top goal scorer.

Notably, Sinclair scored her eleventh international hat-trick during a 2012 Olympic match against the United States, netting all three of Canada’s goals in a 3–4 loss.

Read Also: Most valuable Spanish players in history: Yamal goes past Rodri

Alex Morgan: United States of America- 12 

Alex Morgan of the USWNT during a match- Sportz Point.com

Alexandra Patricia Morgan, born on July 2, 1989, is a retired American professional soccer player who last played as a striker for San Diego Wave FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where she served as captain, as well as for the United States national team. She co-captained the U.S. national team with Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe from 2018 to 2020, and later with Lindsay Horan in 2023.

Morgan was the first overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft by the Western New York Flash, where she made her professional debut and contributed to the team's league championship win. At 22, she was the youngest player on the U.S. national team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the team finished as runner-up.

During the 2012 London Olympics, Morgan scored the decisive goal in the 123rd minute of the semi-final against Canada. She ended 2012 with 28 goals and 21 assists, becoming the second American woman, after Mia Hamm, to record 20 goals and 20 assists in a single year. This achievement made her the sixth and youngest U.S. player to reach 20 goals in one season. Morgan was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year and became a FIFA World Player of the Year finalist.

She played a crucial role in the U.S. team's victories at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups, earning a spot on the Dream Team in both tournaments and winning the Silver Boot in 2019. Morgan recorded her eleventh international hat-trick with five goals on 11 June 2019 in the United States 13–0 victory over Thailand in the 2019 World

Her record-breaking twelfth international hat-trick came in 2021 against Paraguay in a game where the United States dominated and won 8-0

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