Ronaldo's 979th career goal helps Al Nassr match 87 year old scoring record
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 979th career goal to help Al Nassr bounce back from their first defeat of the season, edging past Abha 2-1 at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on Wednesday, in round six of the Saudi Pro League.
The result also confirmed Al Nassr had matched the longest scoring streak across consecutive matches in a domestic league in the history of world football, extending a run stretching back to December 8, 2023, a record previously held solely by Argentina's River Plate since 1936 to 1939.
Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, rising above his marker to meet an inswinging corner from Angelo and powering a downward header that struck the post before crossing the line, taking the 41 year old's career tally to 979 goals.
The strike marked Ronaldo's third league goal of the season in just five appearances, and his 132nd for Al Nassr since joining the club, leaving him just 21 goals short of the 1,000 mark, a milestone no player has ever reached in competitive senior football.
Ronaldo came close to adding a second before the break, first seeing an effort cannon off the post after turning sharply inside the box, before a Bento header from a corner was cleared off the line by goalkeeper Donovan Leon and captain Abdullah Al Fahad combined to deny him.
Abdullah Al Hamdan doubled Al Nassr's advantage in the 58th minute with a well struck finish into the far corner, appearing to settle the contest for a home side missing Joao Felix through suspension and Kingsley Coman through injury.
Abha refused to fold, however, with veteran forward Nabil Fekir pulling one back in the 75th minute, catching goalkeeper Bento off guard by shooting directly from a free kick on the left flank rather than delivering his usual cross.
The win moved Al Nassr level on 15 points with Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah at the top of the table after six rounds, keeping Ange Postecoglou's side firmly in the title picture despite their earlier setback against Al Ittihad.
Ronaldo's goal also lifted him further up the Saudi Pro League's individual scoring charts, though Ivan Toney remains well clear at the summit after scoring twice in Al Ahli's 3-2 defeat to Al Qadsiah on Tuesday, taking his own tally to eight for the campaign.
Sergej Milinkovic Savic, George Ilenikhena and Iker Kortajarena sit tied for second on four apiece, with Ronaldo now part of a larger group on three goals that also includes Ruben Neves, Tijjani Reijnders, Alexandre Lacazette, Angelo, Darwin Nunez and Moussa Dembele.
Al Nassr travel to face Al Khaleej on Saturday at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium.