Cristiano Ronaldo turns 36 today. The Portuguese star has the opportunity to continue to break more UEFA Champions League records as one of the top scorers for over 36 years in the competition’s history.
The Juventus and Portugal forward’s first challenge is to become the 46th player over 36 to score in the UEFA Champions League (including qualifying) since the competition was introduced in 1992/93.
All the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League
The top scorers over 36 in the UEFA Champions League
4: Pavel Horváth (Pilsen)
4: Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan)
4: Rainer Rauffmann (Omonia)
3: Laurent Blanc (Manchester United)
Ronaldo’s 36th year was another record, as he surpassed Didier Drogba’s mark (five) to become the UEFA Champions League-era top scorer with over 35 goals, with six.
The competition brings out the best in Ronaldo, so your next goal should be to challenge the numbers of two Real Madrid legends. Alfredo Di Stéfano reached 13 goals in the European Cup after turning 35 (and six after turning 36), while Ferenc Puskás reached 17 in just 18 games after turning 35 (including 13 after turning 36). ).
In the UEFA Europa League, Aritz Aduriz set the bar very high for strikers over 35, scoring 22 goals after turning 35 on February 11, 2016 (including 12 after turning 36).
Great goals from Aduriz in the Europa League
Credit also goes to Plzeň’s Pavel Horváth, who scored nine goals in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League combined after his 36th birthday.
The top scorers of more than 36 years in the UEFA Europa League (including qualifying)
12: Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Club)
9: Markus Rosenberg (Malmö)
5: Pavel Horváth (Pilsen)