Cristiano Ronaldo has pulled clear of Lionel Messi in the all-time list of FIFA World Cup qualifying goalscorers after striking twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Armenia in Manchester on 6 September.
The 40-year-old forward produced a vintage display, netting a brace that included a long-range effort, to move his tally to 38 goals in World Cup qualifiers. That figure takes him past Messi, who remains on 36, and leaves Ronaldo just one goal behind record-holder Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala, who managed 39 in 47 matches.
The top five goalscorers in World Cup qualifiers
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Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala) – 39
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 38
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Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 36
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Ali Daei (Iran) – 35
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Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 31
Among active players, Ronaldo now leads the standings, followed by Messi and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, who has 31.
Ronaldo’s goals also extended his record as the leading scorer in men’s international football to 140, underlining both his consistency and determination to set new milestones even at 40 years of age.
The Portuguese forward, who recently signed a new deal with Saudi club Al Nassr, captained his country to UEFA Nations League success last summer. Yet the FIFA World Cup remains the only major trophy missing from his glittering career.
With the next edition scheduled for 2026 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it could be Ronaldo’s final chance to lift the trophy. Messi, too, is expected to feature at what would be his sixth World Cup, having already achieved football’s ultimate prize with Argentina in 2022.
