Al Nassr’s star Cristiano Ronaldo shatters Saudi Pro League scoring record
Cristiano Ronaldo, the ageless wonder of football, continues to defy expectations. In his first full season with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, the 39-year-old Portuguese forward has etched his name in the history of Saudi Pro League by breaking the league’s single-season scoring record.
The record-breaking moment came on Monday during Al Nassr’s final match of the season against Al Ittihad. Cristiano Ronaldo, the goal machine, bagged a brace (two goals) in a thrilling 4-2 victory. This phenomenal performance propelled him to a staggering total of 35 goals for the season, surpassing the previous record of 34 goals set by Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah in the 2018-19 season, coincidentally also for Al Nassr.
The path to this record wasn’t smooth for Cristiano Ronaldo. While his predatory instincts remained sharp, a couple of his attempts in the first half were deemed offside. However, just as the first half was about to end, he rose to the occasion. A long pass from teammate Mohammed Al-Fatil found its way to Ronaldo, who skillfully controlled the ball with his chest before unleashing a powerful low shot that found the back of the net.
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The second half mirrored the first, with Ronaldo hungry for more. His pursuit of goals paid off again with 21 minutes remaining. This time, it was a well-placed corner from Marcelo Brozovic that Ronaldo met with a perfectly timed header, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. The crowd gave a standing ovation when Ronaldo was substituted off the field five minutes later.
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Ronaldo’s achievement in the Saudi Pro League is just another chapter in his already remarkable career. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has consistently proven his dominance across various leagues. With this new record, he becomes the first footballer to be the highest goal scorer in four different leagues. Throughout his career, Ronaldo has secured the Spanish Golden Boot three times, the Premier League Golden Boot once, and the Serie A Golden Boot while playing for Juventus.
Al Nassr’s star striker’s goal-scoring power remained undeniable, with a remarkable four hat-tricks throughout the season, he also faced a one-match suspension for an uncharacteristic outburst. The incident involved obscene gestures directed towards fans of rival club Al-Shabab, who were chanting the name of Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s long-standing football rival.
Despite this setback, Ronaldo’s overall contribution to Al Nassr cannot be understated. Although the team finished second in the league, 14 points behind their local rivals Al-Hilal, Ronaldo’s presence elevated the team’s performance and spirit.
With this record-breaking season, Cristiano Ronaldo has cemented his place as a legend not only in European football but also in the burgeoning Saudi Arabian league (Saudi Pro League). While Al Nassr fell short of the league title, they still have a chance to claim silverware in the upcoming King Cup of Champions final against Al-Hilal.
