Cristiano Ronaldo found the net once again on Wednesday, opening the scoring in Al Nassr’s 2-1 victory over Abha on matchday six of the Saudi Pro League. The strike brought the Portuguese superstar’s official career goal tally to 979, leaving him just 21 goals shy of the historic 1,000-goal milestone he has publicly targeted.
Landmark goal arrives in the 21st minute
The goal carried a touch of numerical symmetry. Ronaldo headed home a corner delivered by Ângelo in the 21st minute — matching the exact number of goals he now requires to reach four figures. The header broke the deadlock and set the tone for a match Al Nassr would ultimately control, with Abdullah Al-Hamdan doubling the advantage in the 58th minute.
CR7 vs. Messi: The race to 1,000
Despite already holding the record as football’s all-time leading scorer in official matches, Ronaldo continues to chase the unprecedented 1,000-goal barrier. His closest rival remains Lionel Messi, who sits on 927 goals and was recently named among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo’s latest effort confirms his sharp scoring form; he now has three goals in the current Saudi Pro League campaign and has amassed 131 goals since his move to the Asian continent in 2022.
Career breakdown: Where the goals came from
The bulk of Ronaldo’s haul was accumulated during his peak years at Real Madrid, where he netted 451 times. His international record with Portugal stands at 146 goals, while he scored 145 for Manchester United across two spells. Since joining Al Nassr, he has added 131, with 101 coming during his stint at Juventus and the five that launched his professional career at Sporting CP.
Missed chances and a late Abha fightback
Ronaldo could have extended his tally further. In the first half, one of his efforts struck the post, and a subsequent opportunity was cleared off the goal line. Al-Hamdan’s second goal appeared to settle the contest, but Abha responded through Nabil Fekir, who curled a direct free-kick past the goalkeeper in the 75th minute. The visitors pressed for an equalizer in the closing stages, yet Al Nassr held firm to secure the three points.
Al Nassr join leaders at the summit
The win lifts the side managed by Ange Postecoglou to 15 points after six rounds, leaving them level at the top of the standings alongside Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah. With domestic and Asian competitions on the horizon, Ronaldo’s path to 1,000 goals remains clearly defined: 21 more strikes at the age of 41.
Without question, the pursuit of that four-figure landmark will serve as the final great chapter in a rivalry that has defined more than two decades of the sport.
