Cristiano Ronaldo loses UEFA record after Olympiacos’ Europa Conference League win

Cristiano Ronaldo has seen one of his towering UEFA records broken at the very end of the European season. 

The goalscoring behemoth has notched up a magnificent haul of over 760 goals during his highly decorated career, and as such, holds a number of accolades in Europe’s top flight. 

As well as having the most UEFA club competition appearances at 197, he also has the most Champions League goals – 140 – as well as the highest number of goals in a single season in Europe’s premier club tournament, a titanic 17. 

But while Ronaldo was able to hold on to that last record at the end of last season even in the face of a challenge from Norwegian super-striker Erling Haaland, one of his number has slipped from his grasp. 

As well as Ronaldo losing out on the distinction, the two other players who also held the record have also been dethroned – after Olympiacos’ latest of winners in their Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina on Wednesday night. 

During his decorated spell at Real Madrid, Ronaldo was an unstoppable force in Europe (left, pictured in 2017)

Olympiacos won the Europa Conference League after beating Fiorentina in Wednesday’s final

The score deadlocked in a goalless stalemate for all of normal time and much of extra-time, Ayoub El Kaabi struck the winner in the 116th minute to hand the Greek side their nation’s first ever European cup competition victory at the home of rivals AEK Athens – just 27 minutes away from their Karaiskakis Stadium. 

El Kaabi has been a goalscoring force in the competition throughout Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side’s campaign, most notably against Aston Villa, when he hit five past the Premier League side across their two-legged semi-final. 

Such has been his form that the Morocco international has become the highest-scoring player in a single UEFA club competition’s knockout stages, with his 11 goals knocking Ronaldo’s 10 out of contention. 

Even more impressively for the 30-year-old is his achievement of the feat amid his debut season of European competition. 

Ayoub El Kaabi scored the decisive goal of the game, heading in the winner in extra time to set his haul at 11 in the knockout stages

Karim Benzema previously shared the record with Ronaldo for his contributions to Real’s 2022 Champions League campaign

Ronaldo’s own triumph came during his 2016-17 Champions League campaign for Real Madrid, which later saw the Spainish giants lift the trophy after a comprehensive 4-1 drubbing of Juventus at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. 

Also level with Ronaldo’s 10 knockout goals is his former team-mate, Karim Benzema, who also completed the feat in white for Real in the Champions League in a trophy-winning season – 2021-22. 

Rounding out the list is Radamel Falcao, who scored his 10 knockout goals during his final season at Porto in 2011. 

The striker was named Man of the Match in their final against Braga, which they won 1-0 in Dublin. 

While Ronaldo is no longer capable of reclaiming his record, the 39-year-old is breaking new ground at his current club Al-Nassr. 

The forward scored twice during his Saudi Pro League clash against Al-Ittihad, handing Ronaldo his 34th and 35th goals of the season. 

As such, Ronaldo is now the player to have scored the highest number of goals in a single Saudi Pro League campaign. 

But despite racking up personal honours, Ronaldo’s prodigious goalscoring form has been unable to rescue Al-Nassr’s hopes of winning the league. 

The side languish 14 points behind winners Al-Hilal, who lifted the trophy on Tuesday on the heels of an unbeaten ‘Golden League’ season.