Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 500th club goal against America in the Club World Cup on Thursday.
Ronaldo, 31, had netted his 500th career goal for club and country against Malmo in September 2015. The Ballon d'Or winner got on the scoresheet in the 93rd minute against America by breaking clear and shooting past Moises Munoz.
There was some confusion, though, as the goal was initially disallowed for offside before being confirmed by Paraguayan referee Enrique Caceres using FIFA's new pitchside video technology (VAR).
The Portuguese, who joined Real Madrid in 2009 for a then-world-record fee of £80 million, has netted his 500 goals from just 689 matches. His 377th for Real Madrid came in 367 games; he scored 118 goals in 292 for Manchester United, and five in 31 for Sporting Lisbon.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores for Real Madrid, his 500th career club goal, 377th for Real Madrid (118 for Man United, 5 for Sporting CP).
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 15, 2016
Ronaldo's most prolific season was the 2011-12 campaign, when he scored 69 goals for club and country. He is the No. 2 scorer in all of La Liga with 270 goals in 247 appearances, behind only Lionel Messi (321 goals in 359 games).
Ronaldo is also the record holder for goals in the Champions League: He has 95 from 133 games -- three ahead of Messi.
Real Madrid director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno said it is always good to keep the superstar happy.
"[Ronaldo] could have scored earlier -- he had the header off the post and other chances," Butragueno said. "We are happy for him. The best thing is for him to be happy."
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told his postgame news conference that Ronaldo's late effort had secured a win his side should have had under control earlier.
"We should have killed off the game sooner, but we did it through Cristiano at the end. But we are happy with the game," he said.