Cristiano Ronaldo scores 977th career goal as Al Nassr open season with 4-0 win over Al Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench to score his 977th career goal for Al Nassr in a 4-0 victory over Al Riyadh on Friday as the club began their 2026-27 campaign.

The 41-year-old had recently suggested this season could be his last as a professional and was back in the Al Nassr squad after missing their opening Saudi Pro League win over Al Fateh and the King's Cup victory against Al Diriyah; he has also recently married Georgina Rodriguez.

Al Nassr led 3-0 by the time Ronaldo entered the match in the 62nd minute, with Abdulelah Al-Amri, ngelo Gabriel and Joo Flix having already found the net.

Ronaldo required 21 minutes on the field to add to the scoreline: Aiman Yahya's low cross found him inside the box, he controlled the ball and swept his finish into the net from close range.

The strike was Ronaldo's 130th for Al Nassr since his move to Saudi Arabia in December 2022 and extended his scoring run to 25 consecutive professional seasons.

Ronaldo had scored 35 goals for club and country during the 2025-26 season, and his latest goal leaves him 23 goals short of 1,000 — "a landmark no player has officially achieved in senior professional football."

Ronaldo has indicated that the 2026-27 season could be his final campaign, meaning the pursuit of the remaining 23 goals will take place during what he has suggested may be the closing chapter of his career.