Cristiano Ronaldo is set to begin another World Cup qualifying journey with a historic milestone in sight—becoming the all-time leading scorer in qualification history.
The Portuguese legend currently has 36 goals, just three behind Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz (39 goals), who holds the record. Hot on his heels is Lionel Messi, who also sits on 36 goals after netting twice against Venezuela, moving past former Iranian striker Ali Daei (35 goals).
Ronaldo, now playing for Al-Nassr, has been called up for Portugal’s first two matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, facing Armenia (September 6) and Hungary (September 9) in Group F. These fixtures present a golden opportunity for him to inch closer—or even surpass—the long-standing record.
Top 5 All-Time Leading Scorers in World Cup Qualifiers
- Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala) – 39 goals
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 36 goals
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 36 goals
- Ali Daei (Iran) – 35 goals
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 31 goals
With both Ronaldo and Messi locked in at 36 goals, football fans around the world are eagerly watching this race for yet another record that could cement the legacies of two of the game’s greatest icons.
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