“King of records”, “GOAT for a reason” - Fans salute Cristiano Ronaldo as he sets incredible record after goals in Nations League

With his goal against Scotland in the Nations League, Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored against 48 different nations at the senior international level, setting a new benchmark in football history. Fans of the Portuguese star were quick to celebrate his achievement on social media.

There was much discussion surrounding the Portuguese icon’s disappointing performance at the Euros, but he has certainly bounced back this season. After starting his season at Al-Nassr with four goals in four matches, Ronaldo carried that form into the Nations League, scoring the second goal in A Selecao’s 2-1 win over Croatia.

Roberto Martinez rested him for the second game, but the former Real Madrid forward made a huge impact as a second-half substitute. He was once again in the right place at the right time, converting Nuno Mendes’ cross in the 88th minute to seal a 2-1 victory over Scotland.

With his 901st career goal, a record in itself, Ronaldo also broke the record for most countries scored against at the senior international level.

Fans were quick to applaud his latest accomplishment, hailing him as the greatest of all time and dubbing him the “King of Records.” Here are some of their reactions:

“The records keep following him,” one fan said.

While many fans showed appreciation, some were also quick to criticize Ronaldo’s performances, particularly in the bigger tournaments.

“Has discovered more countries than Christopher Columbus,” one fan remarked.

“But still can’t win the World Cup,” another fan added.

“Still no World Cup knockout goals,” another supporter commented.

Roberto Martinez praises Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact for Portugal

Roberto Martinez made a bold decision to bench Ronaldo for Portugal’s second game against Scotland, a move that drew scrutiny. However, the 39-year-old rewarded his manager’s trust in the second half with a crucial goal to secure the victory.

Addressing his decision to bench Ronaldo, Martinez explained that the forward couldn’t start two consecutive matches, as he wanted to keep him fresh.

"Cristiano is in good form. He’s played three matches and scored with his club. We have to protect all the players. He can’t play two consecutive matches of 90 minutes. He has to be there for the end of the match, not the start. I like his commitment," he said (via Eurosport).

Ronaldo has been central to Portugal’s success over the years and continues to be with his goal-scoring prowess. However, Martinez, while stating the importance of the Al-Nassr forward, emphasized that the team views his quality as an asset rather than someone they rely on entirely.

"Dependent on Ronaldo? He’s an incredible player. It’s not dependence, he’s an asset. In front of goal, he’s crucial. His intelligence to open spaces is important. Speaking of dependence doesn’t make sense," he added.

Cristiano Ronaldo will now return to the Al-Nassr camp, where they are scheduled to face two tough games- first against Al-Ahli on September 13, followed by a game against Al-Ettifaq the following week.