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Cristiano
Ronaldo
broke the all-time international goalscoring record with his 110th Portugal goal and then scored an injury-time winner to salvage his country a dramatic 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Ireland in Faro, Portugal on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old, whose return to Manchester United from Juventus was confirmed on Tuesday, had missed a penalty in the 15th minute before John Egan gave Ireland a half-time lead.
But Ronaldo equalized in the 89th minute with a header, before outjumping the Irish defense again in the sixth minute of added time.
He passed Ali Daei, who scored 109 international goals, after equaling the Iranian great's record tally during Euro 2020.
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal and breaking Ali Daei's 109-goal international world record during the FIFA World Cup 2022 European qualifying round against Ireland in Faro, Portugal, September 1, 2021. /CFP
"I'm so happy, not just because I beat the record, but for the special moment that we had," Ronaldo said.
"I have to appreciate what the team did, we believed until the end. I'm so glad."
Portugal sit top of Group A with 10 points from four matches, although Serbia are only three points behind with a game in hand.
The group winners qualify automatically for the finals in Qatar, with the runners-up heading into the play-offs.
France's forward Antoine Griezmann (R) celebrates with defender Presnel Kimpembe after scoring a goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group D game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Strasbourg, France, September 1, 2021. /CFP
Ireland are still only above bottom team Azerbaijan after three defeats, including a humiliating 1-0 home loss to Luxembourg in March.
Luxembourg claimed a second win in World Cup qualifying for the first time in their history in the day's other match, beating the Azeris 2-1.
In other results, World Cup holders France needed a scrappy Antoine Griezmann equalizer before holding on with 10 men to draw 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Denmark beat Scotland 2-0 and kept the Danes top of Group F with four wins out of four.
The Netherlands were forced to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Norway, an inauspicious start for new coach Louis van Gaal.
(With input from agencies)
