Sports
Germany Duck Broken: Ronaldo’s 1,000-Goal Quest Continues
There aren’t many things Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t done but beating Germany was one of them – until now.
When Ronaldo popped up with the winner in the Nations League semi-final in Munich, it extended his record goalscoring total – and ended a long wait.
It was the 40-year-old’s 137th international goal in 220 caps, and his 937th strike in all football.
All three of those totals are men’s records.
But until now Ronaldo had never experienced a worse record at international level against any other team.
He played Germany five times, losing all five – with Portugal last beating them at Euro 2000. But that is now five from six.
That means England take the record of the country Ronaldo has played the most times without beating – three (all draws). Although the biggest caveat in the world is needed here.
Portugal won two of the three ‘draws’ on penalties – the Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.
After Germany, the nation Ronaldo has suffered defeat against most is France – with four losses.
But his Portugal side most famously beat France in the Euro 2016 final, and there have been three draws (although that includes a penalty shootout defeat).
Ronaldo’s goalscoring record against Germany was also poor with just one goal in those five meetings, a total of 450 minutes. That is now two in 540 minutes (so one every 270 minutes).
Funnily enough it was against German clubs where he excelled the most in the Champions League, with 28 goals in 26 games.
Since turning 30, Ronaldo has scored 85 goals for Portugal.
By way of comparison only five other players have ever scored more than 85 goals.
So that means in the second half of his international career he has scored more than legends like Ferenc Puskas, Pele, Diego Maradona and Gerd Muller – or current players like Neymar and Harry Kane – have in their entire international careers.
“It’s difficult to put into words. He takes each day as an opportunity to get better,” said Portugal boss Roberto Martinez.
“As a human, when you have success, you wake up and you have less hunger. But not Cristiano.”
While his international teammate, Bernardo Silva, added: “It’s his ambition to keep going.
“It’s never easy – to still be hungry to go every day.
“He’s been doing this for more than 20 years. It’s tough, but he’s here with us and we’re happy he scored again.”
Where next for Ronaldo?
After Sunday’s Nations League final against either France or Spain – who meet on Thursday in Stuttgart (20:00 BST) it is not entirely clear where Ronaldo’s club future lies.
Ronaldo has been playing for Saudi club Al-Nassr for the past two and a half years but his contract expires this summer.
After their final game of the season, he wrote on social media: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.”
That led many to presume Ronaldo was leaving Al-Nassr.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino had said “there are discussions” over Ronaldo playing at the Club World Cup this summer.
Al-Nassr had failed to qualify – but he would be able to join another team in it, even if just on a short-term deal.
Brazilian side Botafogo were the most strongly linked.
But now multiple media outlets report that Ronaldo is likely to sign a new contract with Al-Nassr, tying him to the club until he is 42.
Can Ronaldo reach 1,000 goals?
Ronaldo needs 63 more goals to become the first player to reach 1,000 ever.
Brazil legends Pele and Romario both claimed to have scored more than 1,000 goals but they included many unofficial matches, including friendlies – so neither are recognised figures.
Ronaldo scored 35 goals for Al-Nassr last season – so would reach the landmark in less than two years if he keeps up that goalscoring rate.
Bbc.com
Atalanta put their PSG beating behind them with a dominant Serie A win, boosted by the return of Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman to the lineup for the first time in four months.
Atalanta have bounced back from a crushing defeat to PSG with a convincing Serie A victory, a match that saw the highly-anticipated return of Nigerian international Ademola Lookman to the pitch for the first time in four months.
The Super Eagles forward, whose recent absence was linked to a failed summer transfer and subsequent standoff with the club, came on for the final three minutes of the match against Torino, but it was his presence alone that signaled a shift in momentum for La Dea.
While Lookman watched from the bench, the team, under manager Ivan Juric, dominated the first half, taking a commanding 3-0 lead.
The attacking trio of Nikola Kristovic, Ghana’s Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Lazar Samardzic was in blistering form, putting the game to bed before the halftime whistle.
Kristovic was the star, bagging an impressive brace, while Sulemana found the back of the net once and provided an assist. Samardzic also contributed with a key assist, demonstrating the attacking firepower that Atalanta has at its disposal.
The emphatic win is a welcome relief for the club, which was humbled in a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain just days earlier in the Champions League.
That result highlighted how much the team had missed the attacking spark of players like Lookman.
His return, even for a brief cameo, suggests that the club and player have mended their relationship, and he is now set to be a key figure in the team’s push to regain form and challenge for a top spot in Serie A.
Nottingham Forest new head coach Ange Postecoglou has revealed that he was looking forward to working with Nigeria defender Ola Aina before his injury.
The 28-year-old played 87 minutes against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in the first of Nigeria’s two games during the September International break.
However, he had to be taken off inside ten minutes at the Free State Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein as the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw against South Africa, as Nigeria’s World Cup hopes hit the rocks.
Aina’s injury came as a big blow for Ange as he missed his first game in charge against Arsenal. After the extent of the injury was confirmed, the former Australian manager mentioned he’s looking forward to working with the Super Eagles defender.
Atalanta fans are furious with Ademola Lookman, unveiling banners condemning his attempted move to Inter Milan
The Super Eagles forward has been excluded from Atalanta’s 23-man Serie A squad amid escalating tensions
Club director Tony D’Amico confirms sanctions and future decision pending when the transfer window closes
Ademola Lookman’s once bright relationship with Atalanta fans has turned sour after the Nigerian forward’s failed attempt to force a move to Serie A rivals Inter Milan.
The 27-year-old Super Eagles star has become the target of intense criticism from the club’s ultras, and supporters have unveiled demeaning banners and even mocked the Nigerian forward with the new nickname “Guipiman,” a street cleaner.
The outrage has reached a point where some fans have boldly declared they would rather see Atalanta relegated to Serie B than watch Lookman don their shirt again, This Day reports.
Curva Nord 1907, one of the most vocal supporter groups, displayed a banner reading:
“The shirt must be honoured. Another piece of b*llshit will not be tolerated,” Nigeria Stories interpretes in a post.
This hostility stems from Lookman’s attempt to push through a summer transfer to Inter Milan, a move seen by fans as a betrayal given the fierce rivalry between the two clubs.
Lookman’s fallout with Atalanta escalated when Inter Milan submitted a €45 million bid earlier in the summer, only for the Bergamo club to reject it.
Frustrated, the 2024 CAF Player of the Year winner filed a formal transfer request and accused the Bergamo club of broken promises and poor treatment both professionally and personally, after Inter walked away from the deal.
In protest, Lookman reportedly went AWOL, abandoning training sessions, further souring relations with Atalanta’s management and fans.
Despite returning to pre-season training, the Nigerian forward was left out of Atalanta’s 23-man squad for their opening Serie A fixture against newly-promoted Pisa.
This exclusion signals how deeply fractured the relationship has become. Sports director Tony D’Amico confirmed that Lookman is not training with the group and admitted Atalanta’s disappointment with the situation, per Score Nigeria.
What next for Lookman and Atalanta?
The saga has cast a shadow over Atalanta’s preparations for the new season.
According to Daily Post, Sporting director D’Amico stressed that the Bergamo club will evaluate Lookman’s future only after the transfer window closes on September 1. Until then, the Nigerian forward remains in limbo.
“Right now, there’s disappointment. We are sorry for everyone, but we will make assessments at the end of the transfer window,” D’Amico said.
Inter Milan have since pulled out of the move to sign Lookman after failing to meet Atalanta’s €50 million valuation, leaving the forward’s options limited.
With two years left on his contract, the forward risks facing heavy sanctions from the club, including possible fines or prolonged exclusion from the squad.
For Atalanta fans, however, the damage appears already done. Whether Lookman stays or leaves, his once-celebrated status in Bergamo has been tarnished by a transfer saga.
Click to see Nigeria Stories interpretes in a post here
BREAKING: Atalanta supporters have erected a banner with a clear message targeted at Nigerian footballer Ademola Lookman after his return to training earlier this week saying :
“Honour the jersey, more bulls*** will not be justified.” pic.twitter.com/v5EklU4Nz9
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) August 23, 2025
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