With his latest goal against Denmark, Cristiano Ronaldo is now the leading scorer among all players in the UEFA Nations League knockout rounds. No other player from the remaining teams has matched the prolific scoring of the Portuguese legend.
At 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to amaze fans worldwide, demonstrating that he remains a game-changer in critical matches. Despite missing a vital penalty in the quarter-finals against Denmark, he quickly bounced back, scoring from open play to aid Portugal in overcoming a first-leg deficit. His efforts were instrumental in securing a 5-3 aggregate victory, paving the way for a semifinal showdown with Germany.
Ronaldo’s influence goes beyond just scoring goals. His leadership shone through, especially after Portugal’s first-leg setback in Copenhagen. Instead of succumbing to frustration, he inspired his teammates ahead of the return match in Lisbon.
The response from the team was remarkable, resulting in a 5-2 extra-time victory, featuring Francisco Trincao scoring twice off the bench, while Ronaldo also found the back of the net. Even after being substituted before extra time, the veteran forward’s presence continued to energize the home crowd, ensuring that the Seleção das Quinas advanced to the last four.
Ronaldo Leads the Knockout Stage Scoring Chart
With his crucial goal against Denmark, Ronaldo tops the scoring chart in the UEFA Nations League knockout rounds. Currently, he is the standout player among the remaining contenders, including Al-Nassr star.
In contrast, several prominent players still competing, such as Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, have struggled. Although Les Bleus have progressed, Mbappe has yet to score in four Nations League appearances this season. His return after a long absence in 2025 did not lead to an improved scoring record. Meanwhile, the young Spanish talent has managed only one goal and one assist.
While Ronaldo remains a formidable threat among the final four nations, the competition’s overall top scorer is still Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker has had an exceptional campaign, leading the scoring charts with several of Europe’s elite players trailing behind.
Can Ronaldo Catch Viktor Gyokeres?
Currently, Viktor Gyokeres of Sweden sits atop the European Nations League scoring leaderboard with nine goals, as indicated by UEFA.com. The Sporting Lisbon striker has been in red-hot form throughout the group stage, scoring in five of Sweden’s six matches and providing five assists, more than any other player in the league phase.
Following him are Erling Haaland from Norway and Georges Mikautadze of Georgia, both with seven goals each, while Romania’s Razvan Marin and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo have each netted six goals. With Haaland and Mikautadze eliminated from the tournament, Ronaldo stands as the highest-scoring active player left.
| Rank | Player Name | Nation | Goals Scored |
| 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 gears up for a semifinal clash with Germany, Ronaldo has a significant opportunity to close the gap on Gyokeres’ nine-goal tally. If Portugal advances to the final, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could have two additional matches to boost his goal count and aim for the title of top scorer in the tournament.
