Cristiano Ronaldo hit another new milestone for Al Nassr after he bagged a brace in their 3-1 win over Al Khaleej on Tuesday night.
Victory meant his side shot up to third place in the Saudi Pro League, now on 32 points and well-positioned to fight for AFC Champions League qualification, but a ways away from league-leaders Al Hilal on 43 points.
Football’s all-time leading goalscorer netted career goals number 918 and 919 on the night and now sits on 13 in the league this season, leapfrogging Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic in the golden boot race.
Ronaldo, 39, has now logged over 100 goal contributions for the Saudi Arabian outfit – 101 in 92 games, including 83 goals and 18 assists.
While the most famous footballer on the planet will be delighted to write even more history, he will undoubtedly have his eyes set on one record. He is now 81 goals away from becoming the first person to ever score 1000 career goals.
Al Nassr cruised to victory on the road, aided by Saeed Al-Hamsal’s 35th-minute red card. It was a goalless affair until Ronaldo’s brace.
Cristiano Ronaldo hit 100 goal contributions for Al Nassr after his brace on Tuesday night
Ronaldo, 39, has scored 83 goals and given 18 assists in 92 games for the Saudi Arabian outfit
The Portuguese superstar leads the Saudi Pro League golden boot race on 13 goals this season
Al Khaleej responded when Konstantinos Fortounis converted from the spot in the 80th minute, only to have their comeback hopes squandered by Sultan Al Ghanam just a minute later, who secured Al Nassr’s third.
Ronaldo is thought to be on the brink of extending his contract at Al Nassr until 2026 – which is due to expire at the end of the season – in a deal which will see him earn £3.19m (€3.8m) per week.
Divided down further, it sees the former Real Madrid star earn £419,800 (€500,000) a day – and a staggering £291 per minute.
On his current contract, he pockets around £164m per season for his on-pitch contributions, with another £49m of his salary coming from ventures off the field.
Ronaldo has appeared in videos promoting the country’s National Day and taken sponsored trips to a number of Saudi’s burgeoning tourist hotspots, and has been spotted front row at multiple high-profile boxing matches in Riyadh.
The Saudi Pro League’s capture of Ronaldo helped kickstart a talent drive from the division which has seen stars including Neymar Jnr, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante tempted from European football by the untold riches available in the Kingdom.
Ronaldo has enjoyed a prolific spell in Riyadh but part of his impetus to stay at the club could be his desire to win major honours.
The forward has only won one trophy – the 2023 Arab Club Championship – with Al Nassr, missing out on two title tilts to Al Ittihad and Al Hilal respectively.
He has won one trophy during his time in Saudi Arabia – the 2023 Arab Club Championship
This season, Al Nassr sit someway behind both of those title-chasing clubs, in third place.
Last month saw Ronaldo again talk up his division at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, comparing it favourably to a top European league in comments that hinted at his continued commitment to Al Nassr.
‘Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course,’ Ronaldo said. ‘All France has is PSG. The rest are finished. Try to sprint in 38, 39, 40 degree weather and see…’
‘It is difficult to become champion in Saudi. This year Al Hilal are better, Al Ittihad are top of the league, but I believe that we have to push hard to be champions.
‘I’ve been champion everywhere I have (played) and I believe I will be champion, but I’ve won this trophy for scoring so many goals and assists and maintaining my level.’
