The Portuguese forward concluded the league season with 35 goals, surpassing Abderrazak Hamdallah’s previous record by one goal.
Despite missing out on the Saudi Pro League title, Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 39, concluded the season with a new milestone in goal-scoring. Ronaldo netted twice in Al Nassr’s 4-2 victory over Al Ittihad on Monday, bringing his league total to 35 goals, one more than the record set by Abderrazak Hamdallah in 2019.
Just before the end of the first half, Ronaldo, who had already seen two goals disallowed for offside, controlled a long pass from Mohammed Al Fatil and opened the scoring with a precise shot from the left side of the box. With 21 minutes left on the clock, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner ecstatically headed home a corner from Marcelo Brozovic. He was substituted five minutes later, receiving a standing ovation from the home supporters.
“I don’t chase records; records chase me,” he stated in an Instagram post.
It was a season full of action for Ronaldo, marked by four hat-tricks and a single red card. He faced suspension for a controversial gesture made in February towards Al Shabab fans chanting Lionel Messi’s name, Ronaldo’s long-standing rival.
Following their elimination by eventual champions Al Ain in the Asian Champions League quarter-finals in March, Al Nassr settled for second place in the league, trailing local rivals Al Hilal by 14 points, who completed their league campaign undefeated.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, signed from Premier League side Fulham during the summer, concluded the season with a goal in the dying moments to secure a 2-1 victory over Al Wehda. The Serbian striker ended with 27 league goals, second only to Ronaldo.
Al Hilal clinched their 19th title, a Saudi record, largely due to a world-record 34-game winning streak, halted only by Al Ain in the Asian Champions League semi-finals.
“This season has been truly exceptional for the team, arguably our best ever,” remarked Hilal coach Jorge Jesus. “The credit goes to the immense talent within the squad and the incredible sense of unity that transcends both on and off-field interactions.”
Al Ittihad’s defeat against Al Nassr marked a disappointing season for the defending champions. Despite the acquisitions of Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and midfielders N’Golo Kante from Chelsea and Fabinho from Liverpool, injuries and other challenges led the Jeddah team to only a fifth-place finish.
Al Ahli, one of the ‘Big Four’ clubs acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund last June, secured third place, trailing Al Nassr by 17 points. Al Ahli clinched a 1-0 victory over Al Fayha, thanks to a late goal – his ninth of the season – from former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.
Ronaldo still has an opportunity to conclude the season with a trophy as Al Nassr prepares to face Al Hilal in the King’s Cup final on Friday.