Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s most iconic forwards, moved significantly closer to a near-mythical career target by scoring his 960th official goal on Wednesday night. The goal came in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 away win against Damac in the Saudi Pro League, a result that also strengthened his team’s bid for the league title.
The 40-year-old Portuguese star, who captains both his club and his national team, opened the scoring early in the second half after a well-timed assist. His strike doubled Al-Nassr’s lead and proved decisive despite a Damac reply later in the match.
Ronaldo’s journey to this point spans more than two decades and several top-flight clubs, including Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and now Al-Nassr. His official tally now stands at 960 goals in competitive matches for club and country combined.
This latest milestone means Ronaldo is now only about 40 goals away from the rare 1,000-career tally that few, if any, modern players have officially reached. He has previously expressed confidence about hitting that mark before he retires. At a recent awards event, Ronaldo said, “My passion is high and I want to continue… You know what my goal is. I want to reach the number (1,000 goals) that you all know. I will reach that number for sure, if no injuries.”
In the Saudi Pro League this season, Ronaldo has been one of the league’s top scorers, finding the net consistently and showing impressive form even in the later stages of his career. He has now scored in nine of his last ten away games for Al-Nassr.
The win against Damac was significant not only for Ronaldo’s personal statistics but also for Al-Nassr’s title hopes. The victory moved them closer to the league leaders, making the race for the Saudi Pro League crown more competitive.
As Ronaldo edges toward the 1,000-goal mark, comparisons with other greats continue to follow him. His record as the top scorer in men’s international football and his long club career make his pursuit of 1,000 goals one of the most compelling narratives in modern sport.
At an age when many players have long retired, Ronaldo’s hunger for goals and longevity on the pitch underline his enduring place among football’s elite.
