Czech FA Claims Cristiano Ronaldo Has Not Broken Josef Bican's Goalscoring Record

"As Cristiano Ronaldo approaches the legendary Josef Bican in the number of goals scored in official matches, questions are multiplied by how many goals the Czechoslovak gunner has scored," they begin.

"The answer is - Josef Bican scored 821 goals in official matches.

"Goals from matches in the first and second leagues, national cups, the Central European Cup and national team selections are included. On the contrary, friendly matches are not included in the statistics, with the exception of the national team.

"The FACR Commission on History and Statistics has decided to shed a brighter light on this case.

"Websites of renowned statisticians, RSSSF and IFFHS, state that Josef Bican has 805 goals in official matches, but they note with one breath that the 1952 year, in which Bican played the second highest competition for Škoda Hradec Králové, is not included."

The statement goes on to explain that Bican's 'missing goals' were found and filled in and, at the same time, the FACR History and Statistics Commission has revised the items listed on its RSSSF website and made some adjustments.

They have corrected the number of goals scored in the domestic league from 450 to 447, put the number of goals in the national team at 18 and omitted goals from the autumn of 1944, when no official competition was played in our territory.

In addition, matches for the Rapid Vienna reserve from 1931/32 in the second highest competition were retained.

Perhaps one of the more interesting stats in the statement is that Josef Bican lost the opportunity to play international matches for six years due to the war years. "Specifically, by more than thirty matches, in which, in its then peak form, it could reach, for example, thirty more goals." the website reads.

Thoughts on the Czech football federation's statement?

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