'Still the best in the world!' - Man United icon Roy Keane busts major Cristiano Ronaldo myth

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates
-Credit: (Image: UEFA via Getty Images)


Roy Keane has hailed former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo after he scored the 900th goal of his career.

The forward netted Portugal's second goal against Croatia in their Nations League fixture on Thursday. Diogo Dalot scored the opening goal but also inadvertently put one into his own net before Portugal clung on for a 2-1 win.

Ronaldo's first-half strike was a landmark moment after he struggled badly at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer. The 39-year-old failed to score despite playing almost every minute for his country at this year's European Championships.

Portugal were eventually eliminated by France on penalties in the quarter-finals to leave Ronaldo crestfallen. But after scoring against Croatia this week, Keane was full of praise.

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"That was a bit of an issue [not scoring at the Euros], but 900 goals," he told ITV Sport. "If you put the ball in those areas he's still the best in the world."

Ronaldo has made over 200 appearances for Portugal, scoring 131 goals. The former winger turned striker helped his nation win Euro 2016 and the Nations League in 2019.

And his next target will be to score a 1000th goal with Ronaldo telling former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand in a recent interview that he was confident of reaching that milestone.

"I want to reach 1000 goals," he said on Ferdinand's YouTube channel. "If I don't have any injuries, this for me is the most important [thing]. I want that. All the goals I have scored, they have video."

On whether he could play at the 2026 World Cup, he added: "Portugal winning the Euros is equivalent to winning a World Cup. I've already won two trophies for Portugal that I really wanted.

"I'm not motivated by that. I'm motivated by enjoying football and the records come naturally."