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Cristiano Ronaldo overtakes perpetual rival Lionel Messi as top European goalscorer

Published 20:56 10 Mar 2015 GMT

Darragh Murphy
Cristiano Ronaldo overtakes perpetual rival Lionel Messi as top European goalscorer

Homesport

We think this honour is going to be something of a tug-of-war over the next five years.

But is Cristiano Ronaldo who will enjoy top spot for at least a week after he overtook Barcelona's Lionel Messi as the most prolific goalscorer in European club football with his brace for Real Madrid tonight. Ronaldo twice pegged Real back from goal deficits thanks to a pair of first-half finishes from Schalke's Christian Fuchs and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie. The double moves the tally of the 30-year-old to 77 while Messi languishes on a lowly 76. Barcelona's little magician will have the chance to return to the top when the Catalan club host Manchester City next Wednesday but we promise not to write an article every time the top-spot changes hands. We're not that heartless.

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Cristiano Ronaldo overtakes perpetual rival Lionel Messi as top European goalscorer