With his goal against Denmark, Cristiano Ronaldo now leads all players in the UEFA Nations League knockout rounds. Among the remaining teams, no player has been as prolific as the Portuguese legend.
Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t seem to have aged a bit, still captivating audiences across the world right now. The legendary Portuguese player has shown time and time again that he excels under intense scrutiny by maintaining his status as a game-changer in big events.
Despite missing a crucial penalty in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals against Denmark, Ronaldo showcased his trademark resilience, later scoring from open play to help Portugal overturn a first-leg deficit. His contributions helped Roberto Martinez’s side secure a 5-3 aggregate victory, setting up a semifinal clash against Germany.
However, the 40-year-old’s impact extends beyond just goals. His leadership was evident throughout the tie, particularly after Portugal’s first-leg defeat in Copenhagen. Rather than letting frustration take over, he rallied his teammates for the return leg in Lisbon.
The response was emphatic—a 5-2 extra-time victory, with Francisco Trincao scoring twice off the bench and Ronaldo adding his name to the scoresheet. Even after being substituted before extra time, the veteran forward continued to inspire the home crowd as the Seleção das Quinas booked their place in the last four.
Ronaldo tops the Knockout Stage scoring chart
With his goal against Denmark, Ronaldo now leads all players in the UEFA Nations League knockout rounds. Among the remaining teams, no player has been as prolific as the Al-Nassr superstar.
In contrast, some of the biggest stars who are still active in the competition, including Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, have struggled. Despite Les Bleus advancing to the decisive stage, Mbappe has failed to score in all four Nations League appearances this campaign. His return to the squad for the first time in 2025 did not result in an improved goal tally. Meanwhile, the Spanish teenager, despite playing an extra game, has just one goal and one assist for Spain.
While Ronaldo remains the most dangerous attacker among the final four nations, the overall top scorer of the competition is still Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker has enjoyed a sensational campaign, leading the rankings ahead of some of Europe’s biggest names.
Can Ronaldo catch Viktor Gyokeres?
Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres currently tops the European Nations League scoring charts with nine goals, as per UEFA.com. The Sporting Lisbon striker was in red-hot form during the group stage, scoring in five of Sweden’s six matches and providing five assists, more than any other player in the league phase.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze sit behind him with seven goals each, while Romania’s Razvan Marin and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo have six. However, with Haaland and Mikautadze out of the tournament, Ronaldo is the highest-scoring active player remaining in the competition.
| Rank | Player name | Nation | Number of goals so far |
| 1. | Viktor Gyokeres | Sweden | 9 |
| 2. | Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 |
| 3. | Georges Mikautadze | Georgia | 7 |
| 4. | Razvan Marin | Romania | 6 |
| 5. | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 6 |
| 6. | Kerem Akturkoglu | Turkiye | 5 |
| 7. | Vedat Muriqi | Kosovo | 5 |
| 8. | Orri Oskarsson | Iceland | 5 |
| 9. | Benjamin Sesko | Slovenia | 5 |
As Portugal prepares for a semi-final showdown with Germany, Ronaldo has a chance to close the gap on Gyokeres’ nine-goal tally. If Portugal reaches the final, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could have two more matches to add to his goal count and potentially finish as the tournament’s top scorer.
