NYT Mini October 11, 2025: 9A - Cristiano ___, soccer star with the most career goals (946)

Answer: RONALDO

7 letters

Clue Breakdown

The prompt references Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese forward whose goal-scoring totals lead all professional players. Whenever a clue calls for a surname after a first name, especially with a blank, scan your mental library of superstar athletes—the Mini leans on evergreen icons to keep clues accessible.

The stat in parentheses reinforces the answer by highlighting his record-breaking 946 career goals, a figure widely cited in sports headlines. This numerical hint steers solvers away from alternate Cristianos, such as Cristiano Zanetti or Cristianano Lupatelli, who lack comparable fame.

Why RONALDO Works

Seven letters neatly match the grid's requirements.
The clue's context points straight to the global football legend.
Crossings from SILENCE, PRINTER, and CANNES confirm the consonant-vowel pattern.

Trivia & Memory Hooks

Ronaldo has scored at club level for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr, plus a record haul for Portugal's national team. Remember the initials CR7, his brand nickname, which can help solvers recall both his name and jersey number.

Solving Tips

When a clue features a blank after a superstar's first name, default to the widely recognized surname.
Use statistics or other factual cues in parentheses to disambiguate possible answers.
Note that long proper nouns often share letters with theme entries, so fill them early to anchor the grid.

← Back to October 11, 2025 Puzzle

NYT Mini October 11, 2025: 9A - Cristiano ___, soccer star with the most career goals (946)

Answer: RONALDO

Clue Breakdown

Why RONALDO Works

Trivia & Memory Hooks

Solving Tips

NYT Mini Puzzle Crossword

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