Ronaldo’s World Cup chase shifts from Messi to Eusébio

Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time World Cup chase appears out of reach, but Portugal’s record remains in play if he can overtake Eusébio.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of World Cup scoring history has narrowed to a more immediate Portuguese target: Eusébio’s long-standing national benchmark.

Ronaldo has not scored in five consecutive matches in the final stages of World Cup play, with his most recent goal coming against Ghana in Portugal’s opening group match at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. That drought has delayed his attempt to become Portugal’s leading World Cup scorer.

The record still belongs to Eusébio, whose prolific 1966 tournament in England made him the defining World Cup scorer in Portuguese football history. Ronaldo, now 41 and playing in what is widely treated as likely his final World Cup, would need two or more goals in the matches ahead to move past Eusébio and become the first Portuguese player to reach double figures in World Cup goals.

The wider all-time race has moved further away from him. Ronaldo is currently 10 goals behind Lionel Messi, who strengthened his position at the top of the World Cup career scoring list with a standout performance against Austria. Messi scored twice in that match , further separating himself from the field.

Portugal’s scoring table could still change in more than one place. Gonçalo Ramos also has a chance to climb into the country’s top three World Cup scorers if he adds a goal during the tournament.

For Ronaldo, the next step is clear but difficult: end the scoring run that has followed him since Qatar and turn a final World Cup campaign into one last national record chase.