10 of the Best: A look at Cristiano Ronaldo's greatest ever goals

On December 30, 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for the Saudi club Al-Nassr, bringing heartbreak to many fans of the Portuguese star forward. For the first time in his career, the five-time Ballon d'Or would not be playing in a European club.

The question everyone is asking is: isn't Ronaldo's level too high for the Saudi championship, the Saudi Professional League? On February 9, 2023, CR 7 made it clear. 

Facing the Al-Wehda club, the striker scored a quadruple and signed off on his first great performance in his new colors. Four historic goals that saw him reach 500 club goals.

To celebrate this new record, let's take a look back at Cristiano Ronaldo's best career goals. A difficult list as he's scored many memorable goals.

Struggling in the league, Manchester United must absolutely win against Tottenham to claim a European place. Despite his 37 years, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to carry the Red Devils, which he joined at the start of the season. Against Spurs, he will once again show who is the boss.

He scored a hat-trick, including a surgical strike from outside the area, and the Portuguese was able to get United out of it. The final score was 3-2. Three goals also, and above all, allow Ronaldo to become the only top scorer in the history of football with 807 career goals.

Real Madrid's 2016 was one of the most significant years in the club's history. In January, coach Rafael Benitez was removed from his post, and replaced by Zinedine Zidane. On February 17, Real Madrid faced Roma in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.

In a close match, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who will opened up the game with a little brilliance. In the 53rd minute, the Portuguese transplanted inside thanks to his “Ronaldo-chop” and sent an overpowered shot into the top corner of Rui Patricio. Real Madrid subsequently won the Champions League.

If there is a lesson to be learned from this article, it's this: never provoke Cristiano Ronaldo. Beaten 2-0 by Atletico de Madrid in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League and provoked by Diego Simeone, the Turinese have their backs against the wall.

Eagerly awaited by supporters for his first season at the club, Ronaldo will deliver an exceptional performance. With a hat trick, he extinguished Madrid's hopes and responded to Simeone's celebration in the first leg. If there is someone with whom you should not play, it is CR7.

Surely one of Cristiano Ronaldo's most impressive goals. On January 30, 2018, Manchester United faced Portsmouth on the 24th day of the Premier League.

On a free kick 30 meters from the box, Cristiano Ronaldo sent a powerful floating missile, an almost impossible ball to save. The celebration is just as legendary, Ronaldo has never looked so overpowered.

An evening for the history books. More than the goal, it is what it represents to the fans of Real Madrid. On May 24, 2014, Real Madrid faced Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final.

It'd been 12 years since Real supporters had seen a European title. This meeting was the opportunity to finally win their tenth title but in the 93rd minute, the Merengues trailed 1-0.

On a legendary whim from Sergio Ramos, Real equalized and snatched extra time. Cristiano Ronaldo scores his team's fourth goal in the 120th minute from the penalty spot and becomes the top scorer in a Champions League season with 17 goals. Real wins the Decima (its tenth Champions League), Ronaldo has just made history.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo: two sides of the same coin. The two most iconic rivals in football history have marked generations of fans. In April 2017, Lionel Messi scored FC Barcelona's winning goal at the Bernabeu. The Argentinian then celebrates by showing his jersey to the crowd.

Four months later, the two teams met again in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. This time, it is Madrid who rules the roost and wins 3-1 on Catalan soil. Ronaldo scored his team's third goal in the 80th minute with a clear shot. He responded to Messi by also showing his jersey (and his muscles at the same time).

After eliminating Inter Milan in the round of 16 of the Champions League, Manchester United faces FC Porto. While Alex Ferguson's men were clear favorites, they had to settle for a draw at Old Trafford 2-2, putting the Portuguese side in a very comfortable situation before the second leg.

The problem for FC Porto is that Manchester United has a vengeful Cristiano Ronaldo in its ranks: the striker has a mission, to eliminate his compatriots. That's what exactly what he did when he landed n exceptional and decisive goal in the back of the net because it is the only one of the match, seeing the Red Devils through to the semis. 

Playing in the semi-final second leg of the Champions League and 1-0 winners in the first leg, the Mancunians must at least draw to qualify. Ronaldo isn't about doing the bare minimum though and will go on to prove that he is one of the best players in the world.

While Park has just opened the scoring for United, Ronaldo has a free kick 35 meters from goal. The commentator expects a cross and calmly asserts: “It's too far for Ronaldo to think of shooting it”. A second later, a cannon shot tore the nets of Emirates Stadium. It was Ronaldo's penultimate goal with United, he joined Real Madrid the following summer.

The 2018 World Cup in Russia was only in its second day of competition when Cristiano Ronaldo decided to make history. With Portugal trailing 3-2 at the last minute against the Spaniards in the first group match, the striker decided to take matters into his own hands.

On a free kick at the entrance to the surface, the Portuguese captain sends a missile into the cage of a helpless David De Gea. The third goal of the match for Cristiano Ronaldo which allowed his team to avoid defeat in the opening stages of the competition.

It is, without a doubt, the most striking goal of Cristiano Ronaldo's career. Facing Juventus, Real Madrid travel to Turin for the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League.

A match that Real won easily with the score of 3-0. But what everyone remembers from this match is this goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. An exceptional acrobatic 2.30m high bicycle kick,  which nails Buffon on the spot. Applauded by the whole stadium, the Portuguese left Real at the end of the season to join the club he eliminated that year: Juventus.

This stunning kick is a physical and technical feat, a gesture that perfectly illustrates the talent and work of Cristiano Ronaldo. For many, it is one of the most beautiful goals in the history of football. What do you think? Did we miss any in our top 10?