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TEHRAN: Former Iranian forward Ali Daei has said it would be an honor to see Cristiano Ronaldo break his record for the most goals in international soccer as the Portuguese forward approaches his mark of 109.
Ronaldo, the only other centurion in the international men’s arena, has scored 102 goals in 168 appearances since his debut in 2003.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo warms up before a match against Andorra at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on November 11, 2020. (Photo: Reuters / Rafael Marchante)
“I would congratulate him directly,” Daei told the Tasnim news agency. “Ronaldo has scored 102 goals for Portugal so far and he will beat my record, I’m sure, but he still has seven goals left.
“It would be a real honor for me if a player of his caliber could break my record. Ronaldo is one of the best players not only of this era, but of all time. He is an absolute phenomenon.”
Daei, who was captain of Iran and retired in 2006, reached his mark in 148 appearances.
Ronaldo will have a chance to close the gap when Portugal face Croatia in their final match of the UEFA Nations League group stage on Tuesday (17 November).
