Cristiano Ronaldo Sets Scoring Record with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Cristiano Ronaldo has made an indelible mark on the Saudi Pro League, reaching 88 goals in 96 appearances since joining Al Nassr FC in January 2023. As the world’s highest-paid athlete, Ronaldo continues to enhance his legendary status in football.

Ronaldo’s journey in Saudi Arabia began with a friendly match against Paris Saint-Germain, in which he scored his first goal while representing a team of players from Al Nassr. He officially debuted in the league with a 1-0 victory over Al-Ettifaq, where he quickly made his presence felt by scoring in a subsequent 2-2 draw against Al-Fateh.

The Portuguese forward demonstrated his scoring prowess with a hat-trick during a dominating 4-0 win against Al Wehda, followed by another hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Damac. In total, Ronaldo has scored 65 goals in 65 league appearances for Al Nassr.

In the 2023-24 season, he set a new goal-scoring record in the league with 35 goals, surpassing the previous record of 34 held by Abderrazak Hamdallah since 2019. Notably, two of those goals contributed to Al Nassr’s triumph in the Arab Club Champions Cup, where he scored twice in the final against rival Al Hilal.

Ronaldo’s contributions have not gone unnoticed, as he earned the Saudi Pro League Player of the Month award for February 2023 after netting eight goals and providing two assists.

With five clubs included in his illustrious career, Ronaldo’s legacy began at Sporting CP in Portugal in 2002. He later played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, amassing over 700 goals across more than 900 club appearances. His accolades include five UEFA Champions League titles and multiple league titles throughout Europe, along with the Arab Club Champions Cup.

As he continues his tenure with Al Nassr, Ronaldo remains a key figure in both the club and league, influencing a new generation of players and raising the profile of Saudi football on the international stage.