Ronaldo Equals Raul In Champions League Goals, Still Behind Messi In Record Chase

Ronaldo Equals Raul, Still Chasing Messi
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his goal against SD Eibar, during their La Liga soccer match, at Ipurua stadium in Eibar, northern Spain, Saturday Nov. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his goal against SD Eibar, during their La Liga soccer match, at Ipurua stadium in Eibar, northern Spain, Saturday Nov. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo equaled Raul's Champions League goals tally by netting the winner in Wednesday night's 1-0 victory at Basel.

The Portugal international struck 10 minutes before the break in Switzerland, tapping home a cross from Karim Benzema for his 71st goal in Europe's premier club competition.

As a result, Ronaldo now shares second place in the all-time goal-scorers' standings with Madrid icon Raul and is just three shy of record-holder Lionel Messi, who hit a hat trick in Barcelona's 4-0 win at APOEL on Tuesday evening.

Ronaldo, 29, racked up his 71 goals in just 108 games, whereas Raul needed 142 games to reach the mark.

Messi, meanwhile, has struck 74 times in just 91 Champions League appearances, at a ratio of 0.81 goals per game.

Ronaldo, though, will be hoping to close the gap to the Argentine attacker during the final round of the group stage, with Madrid set to host Ludogorets on matchday six and Barcelona welcoming Paris Saint-Germain to Camp Nou.

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