Cristiano Ronaldo’s 10 best Portugal goals ranked

Cristiano Ronaldo’s best Portugal goals tell the story of a player who could decide matches in almost every way: free-kicks, towering headers, quick breaks and finishes that required an instant change of plan.

Following his retirement from international football, dave.sport has ranked 10 of his finest goals for Portugal. This is our editorial selection, balancing the quality of each finish with its importance and the pressure of the occasion.

From a World Cup rescue act against Spain to the hat-trick that carried Portugal past Sweden, these are the goals that stand out.

10. Denmark, 2011: a free-kick worth remembering in defeat

Denmark 2-1 Portugal — 11 October 2011, European Championship qualifying.

Portugal were already heading for defeat when Ronaldo struck from long range in stoppage time. His free-kick flew into the far corner, giving a disappointing evening an exceptional finish.

Its limited impact on the result keeps it lower in our ranking, but the strike itself belongs among his best.

9. Netherlands, 2012: the winner that completed his double

Portugal 2-1 Netherlands — 17 June 2012, European Championship group stage.

Ronaldo had already equalised when Nani found him during another Portuguese attack. He created the space to finish and scored the winner in the 74th minute.

The goal completed a two-goal performance that sent Portugal into the quarter-finals. It also showed how dangerous he could be when a game opened up.

8. Czech Republic, 2012: a header to reach the semi-finals

Czech Republic 0-1 Portugal — 21 June 2012, European Championship quarter-final.

After scoring twice against the Netherlands, Ronaldo delivered the decisive moment again. He attacked João Moutinho’s cross and powered a downward header past Petr Čech in the 79th minute.

The movement was as important as the contact: Ronaldo arrived where the defender could no longer stop him. UEFA’s match report records the goal that put Portugal into the last four.

7. Switzerland, 2019: the finish that completed another hat-trick

Portugal 3-1 Switzerland — 5 June 2019, Nations League semi-final.

Ronaldo completed his treble by taking possession on the left, beating his defender with a change of direction and finding the far corner.

It was an individual finish to settle the contest, combining the dribbling of his younger years with the accuracy of an experienced goalscorer.

6. Wales, 2016: a leap towards Portugal’s first title

Portugal 2-0 Wales — 6 July 2016, European Championship semi-final.

Ronaldo rose above James Chester to meet Raphaël Guerreiro’s cross and head Portugal into the lead. The height of his jump and the force of the finish gave Wayne Hennessey little chance.

Portugal reached the final and won the tournament. This was the goal that broke the semi-final open, as UEFA’s report explains.

5. Sweden, 2020: international goal number 100

Sweden 0-2 Portugal — 8 September 2020, Nations League.

Some milestones arrive through routine finishes. Ronaldo reached 100 international goals with a free-kick into the top corner.

He scored again later in the match, but the first remains the defining image: a landmark reached with a strike worthy of the occasion. UEFA has highlights of both goals.

4. Armenia, 2015: control, turn and a spectacular finish

Armenia 2-3 Portugal — 13 June 2015, European Championship qualifying.

Ronaldo controlled a dropping ball, turned and struck from outside the penalty area to complete his hat-trick.

The first touch created the opportunity; the shot finished it emphatically. For pure technique, this is one of the strongest contenders for the top spot.

3. Hungary, 2016: the instinctive flick

Hungary 3-3 Portugal — 22 June 2016, European Championship group stage.

Meeting João Mário’s cross, Ronaldo used a clever backheel flick to bring Portugal level at 2-2.

He later equalised again with a header. The flick earns its place here for the speed of the adjustment and the precision of a finish executed with so little time to think.

2. Sweden, 2013: the hat-trick goal that sealed qualification

Sweden 2-3 Portugal — 19 November 2013, World Cup qualifying play-off.

Ronaldo’s third goal completed one of his greatest international performances. Running onto Moutinho’s pass, he beat Andreas Isaksson and finished to secure Portugal’s place at the 2014 World Cup.

Zlatan Ibrahimović had threatened to turn the tie Sweden’s way. Ronaldo answered by taking control of it. He scored all four Portuguese goals across the two legs, with UEFA documenting the decisive second-leg hat-trick.

1. Spain, 2018: the World Cup free-kick

Portugal 3-3 Spain — 15 June 2018, World Cup group stage.

Portugal were trailing 3-2 when Ronaldo stood over a late free-kick. He curled it over the wall and beyond David de Gea to complete his hat-trick.

For us, this is the winner. The execution was outstanding, the opposition formidable and the pressure enormous. Ronaldo needed one chance to rescue Portugal’s opening World Cup match, and delivered a goal that remains inseparable from his international career.