,autocrop(1200:630) "Cristiano Ronaldo scores 982nd career goal in Al Nassr win over Al Faisaly")
Ronaldo Closes In On Millennium Milestone
“Vamos,” Cristiano Ronaldo posted to social media following Friday’s 3-1 victory over Al Faisaly. The Portuguese forward’s latest strike—his 982nd career goal—moved Al Nassr into a provisional second place in the Saudi Pro League, as reported by A Bola.
The 41-year-old forward, who has previously represented Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and the Portuguese national team, is now just 18 goals away from reaching his 1,000th career strike. This tally reflects his official goals across his club and international career.
An Early Breakthrough at Majmaah
The match at Majmaah Sports City Stadium ignited early. In just the 4th minute, Al-Hamdan capitalized on a poor clearance by Pacheco to put Al Nassr ahead, according to ncnews.com.br. While the opening half struggled to find its rhythm, Al Nassr pressed hard; Ronaldo nearly doubled the lead in the 32nd minute, only to see his effort rattle the post.
Turning the Tide in the Second Half
The pace accelerated after the break. João Félix floated a free-kick into the box in the 51st minute, which Ronaldo redirected with his shoulder and head to find the net. The ball deflected off defender Andrei Girotto before entering the goal. Bongonda pulled one back for Al Faisaly with a 66th-minute header, but Ângelo secured the three points in the 79th minute, converting a cross from Ronaldo to seal the 3-1 scoreline. Mendy also threatened for the hosts, striking the crossbar with a header late in the game.
Al Nassr Climbs to Provisional First Place
The win brings Al Nassr to 25 points. Depending on the remaining 11th-round results, the club sits in a provisional first-place tie with Al Qadisiyah or second place, according to reporting by just and ncnews.com.br. For Al Faisaly, the loss leaves them mired in 15th place with seven points.
The result served as a personal recovery for Ronaldo, who had missed a penalty in his previous outing against Neom. He started Friday alongside João Félix and Samu Costa, as the team looks ahead to a congested schedule.
Video: Cristiano Ronaldo reaches 982 career goals with latest strike for Al Nassr vs Al Faisaly in Saudi Pro League https://t.co/pifSlne9nj
Looking Toward Asia
Al Nassr faces a quick turnaround, with an Asian Champions League fixture against Al Wasl scheduled for Monday. The match will see Al Nassr face a side managed by Rui Vitória, as noted by Record. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the league, the 11th round saw disruption: the match between Al Ahli and Al Khaleej was postponed on the day of the event due to travel complications involving the visiting team’s flight, Record reported.