In 2023, the 38-year-old Portuguese football legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, is defying age as he continues to showcase his goal-scoring prowess in the Saudi Pro League while playing for Al Nassr.
During a match against Al Ettifaq at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Ronaldo notched his 51st goal of the year, marking his 17th goal in the SPL and bringing his career total to an impressive 870 goals.
The scoring moment came from a penalty, expertly executed by Ronaldo as he placed the ball in the bottom left corner of the net. Despite Al Ettifaq’s goalkeeper, Paulo Victor, making a correct guess on the direction, he couldn’t manage to deflect the powerful shot.
The penalty itself was awarded after a skillful play by Sadio Mane, who managed to bring the ball into the box with a superb touch. In an attempt to halt Mane’s progress, Abdulrahman Yousef unintentionally blocked a cross with his hand, leading to the penalty.
The game concluded with Al Nassr securing a 3-1 victory, further solidifying Ronaldo’s impact on the team’s success. Notably, in the race for the most goals in 2023, Ronaldo is closely followed by England’s Harry Kane and France’s Kylian Mbappe, both of whom share the top spot with 52 goals each.
Harry Kane, now playing for Bayern Munich, showcases his scoring ability alongside Mbappe, making it a competitive race for the goal-scoring crown. In third place is Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, boasting an impressive tally of 50 goals.
Ronaldo’s continued excellence on the field, even in his late 30s, is a testament to his enduring skill, and his contributions to Al Nassr highlight his ability to make a significant impact wherever he plays. The football world eagerly watches as these prolific goal-scorers vie for supremacy in the ongoing season.
