CRISTIANO RONALDO broke Irish hearts to become the greatest scorer in international football history and beamed: “That’s another record for the museum.”
Ronaldo marked the confirmation of his return to Manchester United with the last-gasp double that plunged the Republic from joy to despair.
Both goals including the injury-time winner were classic Ronaldo, rising above the Irish defence to find power and direction and taking him to 111 international goals, two clear of Iran’s Ali Daei.
He said: “I’m extremely happy, I needed one goal and I’ve scored two.”The important thing is the team believed until the end. I believed until the end.
“Ten minutes before the game ended I asked for the support of the fans.
“When the team is not responding, the help of the public is essential. They gave us strength.
“I’m very happy for the two goals that gave us the victory and for breaking the record.”
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John Egan’s header looked to have earned Stephen Kelly’s braves their first competitive win in 14 matches.
But Ronaldo, who had earlier seen a spot kick saved by rookie keeper Gavin Bazunu and might have been dismissed after lashing out at West Brom’s Dara O’Shea, headed home an 89th minute leveller.
Then from Portugal’s final attack, he leaped to steal the points.
Ronaldo will also be able to arrive in Manchester early after the yellow card for taking his shirt off in celebration means he will miss next week’s game in Azerbaijan.
He added: “The penalty is part of the game, part of the business. Sometimes we score, sometimes you make a mistake.
“But I still believed until the end of the game. This record is mine and it is unique.
“I’m extremely happy and it’s another one for my career.
“It’s about motivation and the desire I have to continue playing football, also from this last contract I made, in which I was happy to return home.
“If we get up every day with the ambition to motivate and do better, to make the fans and our children happy, that is essential.
“It’s another record for the museum.”
