'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is this generation’s leading goalscorer. Having scored 803 goals in club and international football combined, the mercurial Portuguese lives by the phrase “scoring for fun.”
En route to his mind-boggling tally, the 36-year-old has had help from some of the best attack-minded players in the business. He has learned from them, celebrated with them, and has often even returned the favor.
Today, we will take a look at five players Ronaldo has enjoyed playing with the most.
Here are the five players with whom the Portuguese has combined for most goals across his clubs and country:
Trending
#5 Gonzalo Higuain - 32 goals
Before Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Manchester United in 2009, Gonzalo Higuain was Real Madrid’s star man in front of goal. The Argentine possessed impressive movement, rarely missed his mark, and was an absolute crowd favorite.
Ronaldo's arrival pulled the spotlight away from him, but that didn’t stop Higuain from combining effectively with the Portuguese ace.
Higuain and Ronaldo played together for four seasons in the Spanish capital, winning a league title, the Spanish Cup and the Super Cup together. After their time together in Madrid, the two forwards were reunited in Turin when Ronaldo joined Juventus in 2018.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner's arrival once again took a toll on the Argentine as he was offloaded to AC Milan on loan in the same transfer window.
The 34-year-old found his way back to Juventus in 2019, but he failed to keep pace with the Bianconeri’s number 7. Despite their “sketchy” history, the two combined quite a few times, registering a total of 32 goals during their spells together in Madrid and Turin.
#4 Marcelo - 33 goals
The relationship between a full-back and a winger is like no other. They are responsible for reading each other’s movements and taking the fight to the opposition defenders.
The bond between Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo is one of the most celebrated in football. Since being separated in 2018, neither has been able to replicate the same dynamic with any other player.
The pair combined countless times between 2009 and 2018, making life miserable for defenders. Blessed with the heart of an attacker, Marcelo used to whip in inviting crosses into the area, allowing the left-winger to strike.
The Portuguese skipper, too, returned the favor by making room for the Brazilian to venture into the box and get his shot away.
During their nine-year spell together at Real Madrid, the two wide players combined for 33 goals. Marcelo assisted the club’s record goalscorer 25 times in his career and was set up eight times in return.
#3 Mesut Ozil - 38 goals
Dubbing Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo as soulmates of the footballing world would not be an exaggeration. The duo did not exactly spend a lot of time together at Real Madrid, but their understanding on the pitch was nothing short of telepathic.
Ozil was signed in 2010 from Werder Bremen and had the opportunity to link up with Real Madrid’s record goalscorer for three seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu. His vision and execution made him an invaluable asset to Los Blancos and the man himself.
Between 2010 and 2013, Ozil set up Ronaldo a whopping 31 times. The Portuguese superstar did not get many opportunities to return the favor too many times, as Ozil rarely ventured into the penalty box.
The 36-year-old assisted the Fenerbahce star seven times during their time together. They celebrated one La Liga, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Supercup in Real Madrid colors.
#2 Gareth Bale - 41 goals
Real Madrid signed Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for €101 million in 2013, making him the most expensive player in the club’s history, dethroning Ronaldo in the process.
Bale, alongside the Portugal international and Karim Benzema, formed one of the most fearsome attacking trios in football. The right-winger quickly built a good rapport with his team-mates and eventually helped them to the Champions League crown at the end of the season.
Between 2013 and 2018, Bale shared a good relationship with the Portuguese superstar, with the duo combining for 41 goals across competitions. Had it not been for Bale’s incessant injuries, the number would have been significantly higher.
#1 Karim Benzema - 76 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema played alongside one another for nine long years at the Santiago Bernabeu. While the Portugal international almost always stole the spotlight with his goals, Benzema was also just as influential with his movement.
Between 2009 and 2018, the Frenchman often operated as a decoy, drawing attention away from the Real Madrid no.7, allowing him to get his shot away.
Ronaldo, who has often been criticized for his selfish play, used to square off to Benzema more often than one would expect. Had the Frenchman been a tad more clinical, like he currently is, he could have added quite a few more to his tally.
Over the course of their time together, the two superstars combined for 76 goals, helping Real Madrid to unparalleled success in that timeframe.
With the duo leading the line, Los Blancos won 16 trophies, including two La Ligas and four Champions League titles.
