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By Abdi Rashid Published: 07: 25 AEST, 6 September 2024 | Updated: 08: 41 AEST, 6 September 2024 1 View comments Fans have hailed Cristiano Ronaldo on social media after he scored the 900th goal of his career in Portugal's 2-1 win over Croatia. What seemed like a typical Ronaldo goal, the icon lurking in at the back post to tap home a smart cross from the left, turned out to be a momentous moment, with the 39-year-old passing the incredible landmark while wearing his national shirt. Rafael Leao dropped deep on the left-hand side to collect the ball as the former Real Madrid man waited in the box, along with Bruno Fernandes. The AC Milan star then produced a pinpoint delivery which was just begging to be prodded home - and 'CR7' obliged, wheeling off in celebration presumably aware of what he had just achieved. And fans wasted no time in heaping praise on Ronaldo, with some labelling him as the 'best to ever do it'. Fans have hailed Cristiano Ronaldo on X after he scored the 900th goal of his career The 39-year-old lurked in at the back post to tap home a smart cross from the left One said: '900 career goals for Cristiano Ronaldo, the best to ever do it. ' Another wrote: 'The goat for a reason, no one compares', with the goat emoji, ' while a third posted: 'Best player the world has ever produced'. A fourth said: '900 goals and the legacy keeps growing! ' According to transfermarkt, Ronaldo's first ever goal came for Sporting Lisbon in a league game against Moreirense on October 7, 2002 courtesy of a solo run. But even a man of his supreme confidence could not have predicted he would still be scoring 22 years later and passing 900 strikes. It took Ronaldo just over five years to reach 100 goals, achieving this landmark against Tottenham on January 27, 2008 from the penalty spot. Seven years on, the forward passed 500 finishes thanks to a goal against Malmo in the Champions League group stage on September 30, 2015. Incredibly, it has taken him less than nine years to polish off the remaining 400 and become the first man to get 90 per cent of the way to a 1000 strikes. Long-time adversary Lionel Messi is the only other player to pass 800, sitting on a total of 838 for club and country. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group