Cristiano Ronaldo was recognised as football’s all-time leading goalscorer after firing Juventus to Italian Super Cup glory against Napoli.
Portugal international Ronaldo registered the 760th strike of a remarkable career in the 64th minute to help reigning Serie A champions Juve claim the trophy with a 2-0 win.
The 35-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward moved one goal ahead of Czech player Josef Bican, who officially managed 759 strikes between 1931 and 1955.
760 – Cristiano Ronaldo759 – Josef Bican757 – Pele743 – Romario719 – Lionel Messi
The record-breaking goal for CR7! 📈 pic.twitter.com/kivED5nB10
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 20, 2021
There is some dispute, however, with some sources crediting Bican with 805 goals, while putting Romario on 772 and Pele on 767.
What was certain was that Ronaldo’s latest strike helped him to another honour with Juve.
Lorenzo Insigne had a chance to ruin Ronaldo’s milestone moment but missed an 80th-minute penalty before Alvaro Morata wrapped up the win for Andrea Pirlo’s side deep into stoppage time.
Elsewhere in Italy, sixth-placed Atalanta salvaged a 1-1 Serie A draw at Udinese after Colombia striker Luis Muriel cancelled out a first-minute opener from former Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra.
Bayern Munich remain four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga following an unconvincing 1-0 success away to Augsburg.
2️⃣2️⃣ goals at the half-way point 🤯
How many will @lewy_official finish up with this season? #FCAFCB pic.twitter.com/zchF77KCP4
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) January 20, 2021
Robert Lewandowski, the division’s leading scorer, claimed his 22nd league goal of the campaign by converting a 13th-minute penalty.
The hosts squandered a golden chance to snatch a point as Alfred Finnbogason missed from the spot 14 minutes from time.
RB Leipzig climbed to second after Sweden international Emil Forsberg earned them a 1-0 victory over Union Berlin.
At the other end of the table, Schalke remain rock bottom after conceding a dramatic stoppage-time winner in the 2-1 loss to fellow strugglers Cologne.
FOOTBALL BLOODY HELL
THREE BIG POINTS___1:2 #S04KOE #effzeh pic.twitter.com/x7J4tJcto9
— 1. FC Cologne (@fckoeln_en) January 20, 2021
Matthew Hoppe cancelled out Rafael Czichos’ opener to level for the hosts but Jan Thielmann struck at the death to inflict defeat.
Cologne, however, remain in the relegation zone after Fabian Klos, an own goal from Marc-Oliver Kempf and Ritsu Doan gave Arminia Bielefeld a thumping 3-0 win over Stuttgart.
In Wednesday’s other game, Keven Schlotterbeck’s second-half own goal secured Eintracht Frankfurt a 2-2 draw at Freiburg. Roland Sallai and Nils Petersen had turned the contest in the home side’s favour following Amin Younes’ early opener.
In Spain, Villarreal missed the chance to go third in LaLiga after Paco Alcacer missed an stoppage-time penalty in the 2-2 draw with Granada.
#VillarrealGranada | 2-2 | ⏱ 90 +5' | FULL-TIME. It ends all square at La Cerámica. pic.twitter.com/HDmRW9KpKf
— Villarreal CF English (@Eng_Villarreal) January 20, 2021
Alcacer’s failure from 12 yards, following the dismissal of Yan Eteki, prevented the hosts moving above his former club Barcelona.
Veteran striker Roberto Soldado and Chelsea loanee Kenedy earned Granada a point by scoring either side of Ruben Pena’s goal and Mario Gomez’s spot-kick.
Sergio Canales’ brace cancelled out Santi Mina’s goal to give Real Betis a 2-1 success over Celta Vigo, while Huesca remain bottom after a second-half strike from Mauro Arambarri condemned them to a 1-0 defeat at Getafe.
In France, Lens moved to within a point of sixth-placed Marseille courtesy of Simon Banza’s second-half goal securing a 1-0 win at the Stade Velodrome.
