Cristiano Ronaldo shattered records and set goal-scoring streaks with a match-winning brace for Juventus in the 2-1 Serie A win over Juventus. Ronaldo’s double for the Italian champions helped him overtake German legend Gerd Muller and become the 5th highest scorer in career. Ronaldo, who 734 career goals before the Juventus vs Parma clash, entered the top 5 for the first time in his career displacing the World Cup-winning great Muller who scored 735 times in a 19-year career. The Portuguese sensational is now just 31 goals behind from equaling Pele in the highest goal-scoring charts. This, surprisingly, wasn’t the record Ronaldo smashed with the double. He broke several club records for Juventus in the Parma win. Cristiano Ronaldo Sets More Goal-Scoring Records for Juventus With Brace Against Parma in Serie A 2019–20 Encounter.

Josef ‘Pepi’ Bican (805) holds the records for scoring the most number of career goals. The former Austrian footballer netted 805 times in 530 career matches in the mid-90s – a record that has not been shattered to date. He is followed by Brazilian superstar Romario, who has scored 772 goals in 994 matches. Pele at third scored 767 goals, while Hungarian Ferenc Puskas is at the fourth place with 746 goals from 754 appearances. In the manner that he is going, Ronaldo can overtake both in a year. Cristiano Ronaldo Elated to Have 'Conquered' Three Points Against Parma.

Ronaldo’s close rival Lionel Messi isn’t far behind with 717 goals from 901 matches. Messi and Ronaldo are separate by a rung with both speeding their way through to the top. Ronaldo, who made his professional debut in 2001, has, however, played the most number of matches among players in the top five with already 1028 appearances to his name. Messi is the only other active player in the top 10 of scoring charts. The next best, apart from Ronaldo and Messi, is Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has 544 goals from 918 matches and is ranked 18th in the elite list.

The 34-year-old has now scored in 7 consecutive Serie A games for Juventus becoming the first player to do so since David Trezeguet in December 2005. Ronaldo is also the first Juventus player to score 16 goals in his first 20 games of a league season since Omar Sivori in 1960 and fifth overall to achieve the feat. The feat has taken Ronaldo to 2nd in the race for Golden Boot in Serie A 2019-20 behind Ciro Immobile of Lazio.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 20, 2020 08:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).