The Portuguese icon, Cristiano Ronaldo made a revolutionary move to the Middle East leaving a lasting impact on both the Saudi Pro League and his club, Al-Nassr. At the age of 38, he continues to shatter records daily, showcasing his influence both on and off the field.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now smashed the record for scoring the most goals in the 2023 calendar year, surpassing the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland just days after responding to his exclusion from the 2023 IFFHS’ Top 10 Players Rankings list.
Cristiano Ronaldo ends 2023 as No. 1 goal scorer
In Al-Nassr’s final league fixture of the year, the Jeddah-based side secured a resounding 4-1 victory over Al-Taawoun at King Abdullah Sports City on Saturday, concluding the year in the second spot on the League points table. Notably, all four goals for Al-Nassr came from their European stars.
In the final league fixture of the year, Al-Nassr’s talismanic captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, scored the fourth goal for his side with an added-time header, bringing his goal tally to 54 and crowning him the highest goal-scorer of 2023 for both club and country combined.
The 38-year-old forward is poised to finish the year ahead of Harry Kane and Mbappe, who each scored 52 goals, trailing by two. Meanwhile, the Manchester City striker Haaland with 50 goals this year, four behind the leading tally.
As per the former Real Madrid star himself, ‘he doesn’t chase records; the records chase him’. This statement was held once again this year. Despite his unexpected move to Al-Nassr in January, which left fans worldwide in awe, his goal-scoring prowess and on-field magic continue to captivate as strongly as ever in 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo aims to become No. 1 goal scorer next year
This will mark the fifth time Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the title of the world’s top scorer in a year. His previous four records were achieved in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015 during his stint at the Spanish capital while playing for Real Madrid.
Now, the Portuguese attacker has replicated the feat with Al-Nassr in 2023. After achieving this milestone, he voiced his joy and expressed his aim to replicate it again.
Speaking to SSC Sports, he said, “I’m very happy. It was a good year for me both as an individual and as part of the collective. I scored so many goals and helped the team a lot at Al-Nassr and for the national team. I feel good, I feel happy, and next year I will try to do it again,” in the post-match interview.
Al-Nassr will now resume its campaign in February following a month-long break due to the commencement of the Asian Cup 2023. Ronaldo will aim to guide his side to the league title in the second half of the season, continuing his impressive form into 2024.
