RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Cristiano Ronaldo marked the beginning of his 25th professional season in typical fashion on Friday night by finding the back of the net.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner came off the bench to score his 977th career goal as Al Nassr romped to a 4-0 victory over Al Riyadh at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, sending a clear message that the 41-year-old shows no signs of slowing down.
¡REGRESO SOÑADO! 👑⚽️
Cristiano Ronaldo volvió con Al Nassr y apenas necesitó unos minutos para marcar ante Al Riyadh.
Gol 977 de su carrera y cada vez más cerca de los 1,000🐐🔥 pic.twitter.com/NPZkMNKtml
— Fanáticos + (@FanaticosGMV) August 21, 2026
Ronaldo, who had been absent from Al Nassr’s previous two matches, returned to the squad following his international duty with Portugal at the World Cup and his recent marriage. Manager Ange Postecoglou named the legendary forward among the substitutes, with Al Nassr already 3-0 up by the time Ronaldo entered the fray in the 62nd minute.
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Ronaldo makes instant impact
Abdulelah Al-Amri opened the scoring before Brazilian duo Angelo Gabriel and Joao Felix added further goals to put the visitors firmly in control.
Then, with seven minutes remaining, Ronaldo delivered the moment the traveling fans had been waiting for. Aiman Yahya’s low cross found the Portuguese icon, who expertly dragged the ball back before calmly sweeping it into the net from eight yards, a finish that demonstrated the predatory instinct that has defined his career.
🚨⚽ CRISTIANO RONALDO Scores 977TH CAREER GOAL !!
Al Nassr 4-0 Al Riyadh #SaudiProLeague
pic.twitter.com/nmyWGrP27q— SportsHub__Redhawks07 (@SportsHub_Red07) August 21, 2026
The goal moved Ronaldo to within 23 strikes of the coveted 1,000-goal landmark and extended his remarkable record since joining Al Nassr in December 2022. Friday’s strike was his 130th for the Saudi club in all competitions, underlining his transformative impact on Saudi Arabian football.
Return provides timely boost
Ronaldo had missed Al Nassr’s opening league victory against Al Fateh last week and was also absent from their King’s Cup win over Al Diriyah on Tuesday. His return could not have come at a better time for Postecoglou, who will be relying on the veteran’s experience and goal-scoring prowess as Al Nassr chase silverware on multiple fronts this season.
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Now in his 25th professional campaign, a staggering testament to his longevity, Ronaldo continues to defy age and rewrite record books. With each goal, the football world edges closer to witnessing the first-ever player to reach 1,000 competitive career goals.
