RONALDO v GREAVES v THE REST

Cristiano Ronaldo beat Jimmy Greaves' record of goals scored in Europe's top five leagues. Greaves' record stood for 46 games and Ronaldo has played in fewer matches than Jimmy did. Ronaldo took Celta Vigo apart at the weekend and after 10 minutes notched his 367th and then later his 368th goal in 68 fewer games than Greaves. It is remarkable that the record has stood for nearly 50 years.

Ronaldo's career began at Sporting Lisbon who played outside the top five leagues. But he began his quest at Manchester United from 2003 scoring 84 goals in 196 games.

He was then sold to Real Madrid for £80m in 2009 hitting the net in La Liga 284 times in 264 games.

Greaves began in 1957 at Chelsea 124 goals in 157, he then went briefly to AC Milan in 1961 with 12 games in 9 goals (one of a number of British footballers making the journey abroad and not really making much of it-can you name some others?).

Back to Spurs 220 goals in 321 games, then West Ham United 12 goals in 38.

Messi is on 346 since 2004 and of course still playing.
Ibrahimovic is the next closest "active" goalscorer on the list with 268 and has scored in England, Spain, Italy and France, making him the only player in the top 20 to have scored in 4 different country leagues. He lies 11th on the all time list.

Other top European league all time goalscorers include:-
Silvio Piola in Serie A 1929-49
Delio Onnis French league 1971-86 and
Gerd Muller Germany between 1964-79
Alan Shearer, Steve Bloomer and Dixie Dean and Gordon Hodgson of Liverpool (1925-36) (who??)