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Cristiano Ronaldo overtook Lionel Messi’s Saudi Pro League goalscoring record after scoring in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 victory over Al Fateh.
The 39-year-old opened the score in the 17th minute with a low strike into the bottom corner from within the box, before Salem Al-Najdi equalized for Al Fateh just before the half-hour mark.
Al-Nassr restored the lead midway through the second half thanks to a strike from Otavio, and they held on for the win in their first league game since the mid-season winter break.
Ronaldo’s opening has brought his season goal count to 21 in just 19 Saudi Pro League games, while his Al-Nassr club remains second in the table, seven points behind leaders Al-Hilal.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has smashed numerous individual records over his brilliant career, and his most recent strike has etched his name in history yet again.
Cristiano Ronaldo | THE GOAL MACHINE
Indeed, Ronaldo currently has an impressive 715 non-penalty goals for club and country in his nearly 22-year professional career.
The Portuguese icon has beaten fellow football legend Messi, who has scored 714 non-penalty goals, but he will have the opportunity to reclaim the lead when his Inter Miami team begins its 2024 MLS season against Real Salt Lake on Thursday.
In total, Ronaldo has scored 875 goals in all competitions, including 741 club goals in 995 matches and 128 strikes in 205 Portugal caps.
Since leaving Manchester United in January 2023 to join Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has 40 goals and 13 assists in 46 appearances, including 26 goals and 11 assists in 27 current season.
Ronaldo celebrated his first victory with Al-Nassr when they won the Arab Club Champions Cup in August of last year, and he hopes to lead the Riyadh-based powerhouse to more success in the AFC Champions League and King’s Cup this season.
Success in the Saudi Pro League is still a possibility, but there appear to be few signs of halting unbeaten leaders Al-Hilal, who have already earned 56 points out of a possible 60.
Ronaldo will attempt to add to his goal count when Al-Nassr hosts Al Feiha in the second leg of their AFC Champions League last-16 contest on Wednesday, which they currently lead 1-0 thanks to a late strike from the Portuguese No. 7.
