Cristiano Ronaldo might be 34 but he has shown no signs of slowing down as he brushes aside Lithuania with a mouth-watering display where he netted four.
The Portuguese is at his flowing best and appears determined to beat the record for the most International goals by any player. Lithuania were the latest victims of his sporadic shootings and incredible vision for goal.
The four-goal haul saw him add another record to his many-paged book of records. The Juventus forward now has the most goals in the Euro qualifiers with 25 goals.
Interestingly, Robbie Keane taunted him before the match suggesting that there were some records Ronaldo need not bother breaking. As at the time Robbie Keane was on 23 goals and the highest goal scorer in the Euro qualifiers, two more than Ronaldo.
The marauding Ronaldo then responded with a bang – four goals – that sent him two goals atop Keane.
“This is the clear and irrevocable proof that he is the best player in the world,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos claimed post-match.
The Portuguese have now increased his International goal tally to 93, just within touching distance of the 109 goals scored by former Iran International, Ali Daei, who’s long held on to the record of most goals by any international player.
It was also his eighth hattrick. Against the small Nation, the Portuguese shamed all who thought age was taking its toll on him, slamming four goals in the face of Lithuania and all who backed it.
The former Manchester United forward is hot on the heels of Iranian Ali Daei and could soon displace him off the chart in a bid to claim the greatest scorer of the all-time title – at least on the International stage.
The former Real Madrid man made scoring feel easy-peasy from a penalty to converting from a goalkeeping gaffer, a delightful curler and a simple tap-in.