Cristiano Ronaldo comes off the bench to score 88th-minute winner for Portugal against Scotland with his 901st career goal

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 901st career goal on Sunday night to win Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Scotland 2-1, prompting celebrations in Lisbon.

The 39-year-old superstar made his debut in the 900 club earlier this week thanks to his goal against Croatia, and once again showed his mettle against a confident Scottish side.

Two of Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mates opened the scoring, with Bruno Fernandes putting the home side ahead before Scott McTominay levelled the score.

Ronaldo then decided the match by scoring the winning goal in the 87th minute, creating a stir in the stadium as Portugal tried hard to avoid a draw.

A lightning run from AC Milan star Rafael Leao was followed by a deep cross into the penalty area. The cross initially evaded a group of opponents but landed at the feet of Ronaldo who finished the ball off with ease in one go.

Ronaldo arrived at the far post with a close-range finish in the closing stages of the match

Ronaldo is on a mission to score 1,000 goals in his career after scoring his 900th goal earlier

He then quickly ran off and celebrated with his national team colleagues, who stormed over to catch the Real Madrid and Man United legend, who performed his iconic siuuu celebration in front of the screaming crowd.

Ronaldo started the match on the bench as Portugal coach Roberto Martinez wanted to give him some rest, but when the score was 1-1, he called the veteran into action.

Scotland were unable to defend themselves against the final spark of the match and suffered a second successive defeat in three days.

Ronaldo’s goal is the first in his bid to reach 1,000 career goals, having previously stated his intention to reach the record number despite his career being in its final years.

“Only me and the people around me know how hard it is to work hard every day to be in top physical and mental shape and reach the 900 goal,” Ronaldo said after scoring his first goal since June, which took his record number of international appearances to 131.

‘It’s a unique milestone in my career and I celebrated that goal with a lot of emotion. It means a lot.’

‘It was the song I’d wanted to get for a long time and I knew I would get it because it would happen naturally if I kept playing.

“I have already won two trophies for Portugal, which is what I really wanted. Whatever happens, it will be spectacular. I have dreamed of this and I have more dreams,” he added.

Ronaldo came on at half-time against Scotland, where he was a rare substitute. Head coach Roberto Martinez later revealed that it was the Al-Nassr striker’s choice not to start.

“The question was whether Ronaldo played the first half and left or whether he came in and finished the game. That was the decision,” Martinez said.

Ronaldo came on as a half-time substitute and punished the Scottish defence by scoring a winning goal in the closing stages

Ronaldo was mobbed by his Portuguese teammates as the Lisbon stadium exploded

“He is an asset to the national team. When he comes in, when the scorer needs goals, Cris gives energy and a feeling to the fans, the stadium is different.

‘If Cris leaves, it’s the other way around and it facilitates what the opponent would want to do if he plays from Portugal. But the most important thing is the commitment of all the players.

“The players believe in what they can give or do for the national team and are prepared for it. Cristiano has been exemplary as captain,” he added.

Meanwhile, it was another long night for Scotland, piling the pressure on manager Steve Clarke, who has overseen a torrid Euro 2024 campaign followed by two defeats in the past week.