Ayoub El Kaabi Breaks Cristiano Ronaldo’s European Knockout Scoring Record as Olympiakos Triumphs in Europa Conference League
Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-standing European knockout scoring record was eclipsed as Olympiakos clinched their first-ever European trophy in the Europa Conference League.
Ayoub El Kaabi became the new record-holder, scoring his 11th goal in the knockout stages during the 116th minute of Olympiakos’ victory over Fiorentina.
Ronaldo, a former Real Madrid star, had shared the record with Karim Benzema and Radamel Falcao.
Ronaldo set the original record with ten goals in the 2016/17 Champions League, which Benzema matched in Real Madrid’s 2022 triumph and Falcao during Porto’s 2011 Europa League success.
El Kaabi’s stellar individual performance throughout the tournament culminated in his record-breaking 11th goal.
He notably scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa in the semi-final first leg and added a brace in the return leg, highlighting his exceptional form.
It is important to note that the Europa Conference League includes an extra knockout round compared to the Champions League, giving El Kaabi nine matches to Ronaldo’s seven.
Ronaldo’s Continued Influence
Despite no longer playing in European competitions, Cristiano Ronaldo remains a prominent figure in football. He holds the records for the most UEFA club competition appearances (197) and the most Champions League goals (140).
Ronaldo, who now plays in the Saudi Pro League, has ruled out a return to European football, citing a perceived decline in its quality compared to the English Premier League.
“I’m 100% sure I won’t return to any European club. I’m 38-years-old. European football has lost a lot of quality.
The only valid one and still doing good is the (English) Premier League. They’re way ahead of all the other leagues,” Ronaldo stated.
Ronaldo’s recent performances in the Saudi Pro League have been impressive, scoring twice against Al-Ittihad to bring his season tally to 35 goals, setting a new record for the highest number of goals in a single Saudi Pro League campaign.
However, his individual success has not been enough to secure the league title for Al-Nassr, as they were outpaced by rivals Al-Hilal.
Conclusion
Ayoub El Kaabi’s record-breaking performance in the Europa Conference League marks a significant milestone in European football, as Olympiakos celebrated their historic triumph.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to leave an indelible mark on the sport, both through his records and his current exploits in the Saudi Pro League.