The 10 Greatest Goals of Cristiano Ronaldo's Incredible Career

The 10 Greatest Goals of Cristiano Ronaldo's Incredible Career

Last night in the World Cup, Ronaldo finally did something for the first time in his career: he scored in the World Cup knockout stages. It's crazy to think that someone with almost 1,000 career goals took this long to achieve it. However, he has done many other incredible things throughout his career.

So, out of his nearly 1,000 career goals, which are his greatest ever? That is what we will be looking at today. What are the best 1% of Ronaldo's career goals?

10. vs Tottenham Hotspur (2022)

The most recent goal on this list comes in 10th place. During his second spell in England with Manchester United, Ronaldo still had it. It started with a lovely flick from Fred to find Ronaldo outside the penalty area. Ronaldo took two touches before smashing a shot from 25 yards out. The ball flew past Hugo Lloris into the back of the net. It was an amazing strike and one that rolled back the years.

9. vs Fulham (2007)

In ninth place, we see a goal from the start of his career. This was back when he would take on any defender, no matter who they were. This time, his victims were the Fulham defence.

He received the ball on the left wing before driving forward. He cut inside with two defenders pressing him. However, this did not faze him at all, as even under pressure he calmly slotted his shot into the far corner with wonderful accuracy. Truly a wonderful goal.

8. vs Galatasaray (2013)

Like the goal against Fulham, Ronaldo received the ball on the left-hand side. This time, he had a defender closing him down. Ronaldo quickly dropped his shoulder before knocking the ball past the outstretched foot of another defender. He then drove the ball into a difficult angle while under pressure from yet another defender.

However, that would not stop him as he unleashed a rocket into the back of the net. Truly one of his best individual goals ever.

7. vs Barcelona (2011)

El Clásico is always a stage where the best players show up. In 2011, Ronaldo scored one of his first truly iconic headers.

Ángel Di María had the ball on the left side and delivered a deep cross into the box. It was bending away from goal and was not the type of cross most players would even attempt to shoot from—unless your name is Ronaldo.

He leapt to meet the ball with a header. His effort had to both change the direction of the cross and generate enough power to beat the goalkeeper. Even getting it on target from near the edge of the box would have been difficult, but Ronaldo powered his header back across goal and into the net. It was a stunning header and one of his very best.

6. vs Sampdoria (2019)

The previous goal was labelled as one of his best headers—not his best. That is because this one exists.

A high cross was floated into the box, one that very few players in world football could have reached. This is where having Ronaldo made all the difference. He jumped and, for what felt like five seconds, stayed in the air. Reaching a height of 2.56 metres, Ronaldo looked as though he was flying. He met the cross perfectly and powered it into the back of the net.

This is simply his greatest-ever headed goal. One of a kind and one that will not be repeated anytime soon.

5. vs Spain (2018)

We have just seen Ronaldo score his first World Cup knockout goal. While it was not a goal of spectacular quality, this World Cup strike certainly was.

It was the 88th minute. Portugal were trailing Spain 3-2, and Ronaldo had already scored twice. With a free kick just outside the penalty area, he had the chance to change everything.

Ronaldo stepped up and, after his trademark deep breath, struck the ball. Rather than blasting it as he so often did, he bent it around the wall and beyond David de Gea into the net. It completed his hat-trick and rescued a point for Portugal.

It remains his greatest World Cup goal so far—but can he beat it this summer?

4. vs Portsmouth (2008)

For some people, it might feel like a crime not to have this goal in the top three, but it is incredibly difficult to separate the next few entries.

This goal announced Ronaldo's famous knuckleball technique. Standing around 30 yards from goal, he simply stepped up and smashed the ball. It flew through the air with almost no backspin, swerving unpredictably before crashing into the net. By the time it crossed the line, everyone inside the stadium was left stunned.

It was truly unstoppable and one of the first genuine 10/10 goals of his remarkable career.

3. vs Arsenal (2009)

As we enter the top three, we find yet another free kick. This goal is legendary not just because of the strike itself but because of the famous commentary that accompanied it.

Standing around 30 yards from goal, the commentator famously said, "Too far for Ronaldo to think about it."

It clearly was not.

Ronaldo stepped up and unleashed a thunderous effort that flew into the goalkeeper's near post. It was an inch-perfect strike. Arguably his greatest-ever free kick and one that people still remember and quote today.

2. vs FC Porto (2009)

This goal is simply ridiculous.

The strike that won him the Puskás Award and became one of the defining moments of his career.

Manchester United were comfortably keeping possession against Porto when the ball found Ronaldo near the centre circle. He took two touches: the first to control the ball, the second to set himself.

The third touch was not a pass—it was a 35-yard rocket.

The strike took the crowd, the players and the goalkeeper completely by surprise. It flew past everyone and crashed into the back of the net. It was a goal that almost nobody else would even attempt. So far from goal, under little pressure, Ronaldo simply decided to shoot—and it paid off spectacularly.

Truly one of the greatest goals of his career.

1. vs Juventus (2018)

That goal against Porto looked like it would remain his greatest ever.

Then came 2018.

Ronaldo scored a goal so extraordinary that even the Juventus supporters rose to their feet and applauded.

The move began with an attack that looked to have broken down before the ball found Lucas Vázquez on the right-hand side of the penalty area. He delivered a cross into the box, forcing Ronaldo to adjust his run and attack the ball while moving away from goal.

Most players would have attempted a header.

Ronaldo chose something much harder.

Launching himself into the air, he executed a perfectly timed bicycle kick while his momentum was carrying him in the opposite direction. Somehow, he connected cleanly with the ball and sent it flying beyond Gianluigi Buffon.

His reaction said it all. Buffon's reaction said it all. The Juventus fans' standing ovation said it all.

This is Cristiano Ronaldo's greatest-ever goal. Simply the finest goal scored by one of football's greatest goalscorers.