Ronaldo reaches 977 goals as Al-Nassr open Saudi season with 4-0 win

Cristiano Ronaldo began the new Saudi Pro League season with his 977th career goal as Al-Nassr defeated Al-Diriyah 4-0 on Friday. The Portugal captain’s late strike completed the opening-round victory and moved him within 23 goals of the 1,000-goal milestone.

Ronaldo did not start the match but entered from the bench and made an immediate impact. He required only 21 minutes on the pitch before scoring Al-Nassr’s fourth goal in the 83rd minute.

The goal also extended Ronaldo’s scoring run across 25 consecutive seasons. It made him the first footballer to score in each of those campaigns, adding another record to a career that has included Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr and Portugal.

Al-Nassr had already taken control before Ronaldo’s introduction, then finished the match with a four-goal margin. His contribution gave the Saudi club a decisive start to the new league campaign, while Al-Diriyah left without scoring.

At 41, Ronaldo’s latest goal keeps the focus on the approach to 1,000 career goals. The remaining distance is 23 goals, with his current tally combining his club and Portugal goals across a career that has now continued into a 25th scoring season.

The match also highlighted his ability to influence a result without being named in the starting line-up. Ronaldo needed less than half an hour after coming on to provide the final goal and mark the opening of Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League campaign with a personal record.