Ayoub El Kaabi Dethrone Ronaldo and Benzema As player with most Goals in UEFA Single competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a name synonymous with record-breaking feats, has been dethroned! The 39-year-old superstar, along with fellow legends Radamel Falcao and Karim Benzema, have all lost their shared UEFA record.
The stage for the upset was the unlikeliest of places: the UEFA Europa Conference League final. In a nail-biting match, Olympiacos secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Fiorentina thanks to a late goal from Ayoub El Kaabi. But it wasn't just the win that stole the night; El Kaabi's strike etched his name in history.
This single goal propelled him to the top of the scorers' list in a single UEFA club competition's knockout stages (since the group stages were introduced). With a staggering 11 goals, El Kaabi surpassed the previous record of 10 held jointly by Ronaldo (achieved in the 2017 Champions League), Benzema (2022 Champions League), and Falcao (2011 Europa League).
Most goals scored in a single UEFA club competition knockout stage since the group stages were introduced:
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 29, 2024
◉ 11 - Ayoub El Kaabi (2024 UECL)
◎ 10 - Cristiano Ronaldo (2017 UCL)
◎ 10 - Karim Benzema (2022 UCL)
◎ 10 - Radamel Falcao (2011 UEL)
This was El Kaabi's debut season… pic.twitter.com/nqlcEflcLQ
While this might be a small blip on Ronaldo's illustrious career filled with countless accolades, it highlights the ever-evolving landscape of football. New stars are rising, and El Kaabi's phenomenal performance is a testament to that.
However, Ronaldo isn't one to dwell on losses. Just earlier this week, he smashed a record in his first full season with Saudi club Al Nassr. His brace against Al Iittihad secured him the title of the league's highest scorer in a single season (35 goals in 31 matches), surpassing the previous record held by Abderrazak Hamdallah.
"I don't follow the records, the records follow me," declared Ronaldo after the match, a statement that perfectly embodies his relentless pursuit of excellence. Even with this UEFA record loss, one thing's for sure: wherever Ronaldo goes, records seem to tremble.