Cristiano Ronaldo takes less than 24 hours to draw level with Lionel Messi for non-penalty goals after Man Utd winner

Published

21st October 2021

CRISTIANO RONALDO took less than 24 hours to draw level with rival Lionel Messi for career non-penalty goals.

The 36-year-old scored the winner in Manchester United’s dramatic 3-2 win over Atalanta at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Messi and Ronaldo are tied on 654 non-penalty goals each

Atalanta’s defence kept Ronaldo at bay until the 81st minute

Ronaldo’s goal completed a magical comeback at Old Trafford

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s men found themselves 2-0 down at half-time.

Marcus Rashford got United off to the perfect start within minutes of the restart though, finding the bottom corner from a tight angle.

Captain Harry Maguire headed home the equaliser to set up a grandstand finish at The Theatre of Dreams.

And Ronaldo out-jumped his marker with nine minutes to go, to score the winner.

CR7’s goal draws him level with Messi on 654 non-penalty career goals.

Although, the Paris Saint-Germain star reached the milestone in 145 less games than Ronaldo.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

Ronaldo has, however, scored more goals from open play or free-kicks in the Champions League, 119 to Messi’s 106.

Messi has the edge when it comes to the goals-per-minute ratio in the competition, though.

Both will undoubtedly go down as two of the best football players EVER.

On his important goal last night, Ronaldo said: “We are alive! We are Man United and we never give up. This is Old Trafford.”

Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford

<br>