Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal Photo: VCG

The coronavirus has halted the international football calendar and with the cancellation of the world game governing bodies have also postponed the dreams of one man on aiming for the top scorer crown.

Cristiano Ronaldo had moved up to second in the all-time list and was 10 goals behind leader Ali Daei in what should have been a landmark year for the Portugal captain.

Euro 2020 was on the horizon this summer and the team had high hopes of repeating their success in France four years ago, where they beat the hosts and favorites 1-0 in the final.

Since then they have followed up with the first ever UEFA Nations League title, which they won on home soil last year.

So there was much to look forward to for Ronaldo and his teammates, not least the March friendlies against Belgium and Croatia in Qatar, which would have been the first of a pre-tournament preparation that was also set to include games with Slovenia, Spain and Malta.

Ronaldo's last goal came in Portugal's last game against Luxembourg in November. The question is when will he get his next?

He was odds-on to overtake the Iranian goal king until the virus hit, with models predicting he might even do so in the final of the Euros at Wembley this summer.

But now with Euro 2020 now becoming Euro 2021, Ronaldo faces his biggest opponent ever: Father Time.

He will be 36 by the time of the next Euros next summer, but his career has proved that you can not put it past him, unlike him putting it past goalkeepers.

Here are the other goalscorers keeping him company in the men's top scoring top ten.

Ali Daei - Iran (149 caps, 109 goals)

The Iranian set the record before retiring from international football in 2006, calling time on a 13-year career where he thrived for his country. Twice he scored four in a game for Iran with the games coming 10 years apart. He failed to score in two World Cups but assisted the goal that beat the USA in 1998 for Iran's first victory. Daei played for the likes of Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin in his club career.

Ferenc Puskas - Hungary (85 caps, 84 goals)

The Hungarian, known as "The Galloping Major" from his days with Budapest side Honved, where all the players had military ranks, was one of the game's first global stars. He won gold at the 1952 Olympics before his Hungary side really announced themselves on the international stage - the "Magnificent Magyars" beat England 6-3 in 1953 and 7-1 a year later. If not injury they might have gone one better at the World Cup in Switzerland in 1954, where they finished runners-up to West Germany.  

Kunishige Kamamoto - Japan (84 caps, 80 goals) 

A one-club man domestically, it was the national stage where Japan's first superstar shone brightest, top scoring at the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968 where they took bronze. A bout of hepatitis in 1969 perhaps cost Japan a 1970 World Cup place but he continued to bang them in for the Samurai Blue on his comeback.

Godfrey Chitalu - Zambia (108 caps, 79 goals)

Chitalu might hold the record for most goals in a calendar year - the Zambian FA say he scored 107 in 1972, when Germany's Gerd Muller famously scored 85. He managed 79 for his country, starring at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, before retiring to coach. Chitalu sadly died in the 1993 plane crash in Gabon that decimated Zambian football as the national team travelled to an AFCON qualifier.

Hussein Saeed - Iraq (137 caps, 78 goals)

Another one-club man, Saeed did his best work for his country, for whom he is top scorer and apperance maker. Iraq won the 1984 Gulf Cup of Nations and the striker starred, he would also appear at the 1986 World Cup and three Olympic Games.

Zainal Abidin Hassan - Malaysia (138 caps, 78 goals)

Like a comic book hero, Hassan would be trusted to score the goals for Malaysia before being sent back into defense to protect the lead. Played his entire club career in Malaysia with Selangor and Pahang.

Pele - Brazil (92 caps, 77 goals)

The three-time World Cup winner could lay claim to being third on the list as he scored another 18 in unofficial games for his country. He scored throughout his international career, starting with goals at his first World Cup win in 1958 in Sweden and nodding in a goal in the final in 1970.

Sandor Kocsis - Hungary (68 caps, 75 goals)

A teammate of Puskas, Kocsis was the goal threat and he obliged over an eight-year international career. 

Bashar Abdullah - Kuwait (133 caps, 75 goals)

In a career that spanned 1996 to 2007, Abdullah was part of Kuwait winning two Gulf Cups. He also scored eight goals against Bhutan in a game in 2000, five days before netting five against Nepal.

Sunil Chhetri - India (115 caps, 72 goals)

Technically No.11 on the list but the only other active footballer with a chance to overtake Daei and Ronaldo, Chhetri has been a stalwart for the Indian national team since his debut in 2005. His 15-year international career has seen him top score for the country and set the appearance record but he is 35 now and, like Ronaldo, time is not on his side.


Newspaper headline: Goalscoring crown