Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 980th official career goal on Friday night as Al-Nassr defeated Diriyah 3-0 in the Saudi Pro League, moving the Portuguese superstar to within 20 goals of the historic 1,000-goal milestone.
The 41-year-old forward opened the scoring at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, continuing his pursuit of the landmark as Al-Nassr strengthened their position in the Saudi Pro League title race.
Key Highlights
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 980th official career goal in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Diriyah.
- The Portuguese forward is now 20 goals away from reaching 1,000 career goals.
- Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after reacting quickly to a rebound from Kingsley Coman’s effort.
- Samú Costa doubled Al-Nassr’s lead in the 35th minute from João Félix’s corner.
- Coman scored after the break to complete the 3-0 victory.
- The goal marked Ronaldo’s return to club football after a turbulent international break with Portugal.
Ronaldo Opens Scoring in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 Victory
Ronaldo gave Al-Nassr the lead in the 23rd minute after reacting fastest to a rebound at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.
Kingsley Coman unleashed a powerful effort that goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah could only parry into the danger area. Ronaldo capitalised on the loose ball and finished to register his fourth league goal of the season.
The goal also marked his first appearance for Al-Nassr following an eventful international break with Portugal.
Al-Nassr maintained their attacking momentum, with Samú Costa heading home João Félix’s corner in the 35th minute to extend the advantage before half-time.
Coman added a third after the interval, completing a comfortable 3-0 win for the Saudi club.
The victory left Al-Nassr with 19 points from eight matches, strengthening their position in the league title race.
Cristiano Ronaldo Moves 20 Goals Away From 1,000
Ronaldo’s latest strike took his official career tally to 980 goals across club and international football, leaving him just 20 short of the 1,000-goal mark. It came after he scored his 979th goal in Al-Nassr’s previous league outing.
The milestone would represent another significant achievement in a career that has included spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr, alongside his long-standing role with the Portugal national team.
At 41, Ronaldo continues to pursue the landmark while playing in Saudi Arabia, with each appearance adding to a record that spans several decades of professional football.
His latest goal also demonstrated his ability to capitalise on opportunities inside the penalty area, reacting quickly to a rebound rather than requiring an elaborate attacking move.
Ronaldo Returns to Al-Nassr After Portugal International Break
The goal came after Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s national-team camp amid reports of a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus over playing time.
Ronaldo later issued a statement reaffirming his commitment to continuing his international career with Portugal.
His return to Al-Nassr shifted the focus back to his club performances and his pursuit of the 1,000-goal milestone.
The episode had generated attention around the forward’s international future, but his contribution against Diriyah placed the spotlight on his continued scoring record.
Read also:
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- Ronaldo Breaks Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League Scoring Record
- Ronaldo Suspended By Portuguese FA After International Camp Exit
- Ronaldo Beats Messi In All-Time Ballon d’Or Fan Vote
Al-Nassr Strengthen Saudi Pro League Title Push
Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory provided an important boost to their league campaign, with Ronaldo, Costa and Coman all contributing to the result.
Ronaldo’s opening goal set the tone, while Costa’s header and Coman’s second-half finish ensured that the home side secured all three points.
With the Portuguese forward now 20 goals away from 1,000 official career goals, attention will remain on his scoring form and whether he can reach the milestone while continuing to play regularly for Al-Nassr.
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