Cristiano Ronaldo set another goalscoring record as he helped Al Nassr beat US Monastir 4-1 in an Arab Club Champions Cup game at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The Portuguese star scored his first goal of the season with a clinical header in the 74th minute, giving Al Nassr a 2-1 lead. With this goal, he notched his 145th headed goal, surpassing Gerd Muller’s previous record of 144 goals, making Ronaldo the highest-ever goalscorer from headers in football.
Ronaldo’s goal also sparked a late flurry of goals from Al Nassr, as Abdulelah Al-Amri and Abdulaziz Saud Al Elewai scored two goals in two minutes, in the last minutes of the match, to seal a convincing 4-1 victory.
The win propelled Al Nassr to the top of its group in the King Salman Club Cup, level on points with Al Shabab but ahead on goal difference. Monastir, on the other hand, slumped to the bottom of the table and is the only team in its group without a single point.
Al Nassr started the match on the offensive with former Inter Milan stalwart Marcelo Brozovic pulling strings alongside former Lens captain Seko Fofana. In the 42nd minute, the breakthrough finally arrived from an attack started by Brozovic. The Croat’s long ball along the left flank was received well by Abdulrahman Ghareeb who set up Anderson Talisca to open the scoring.
An error by Al Nassr’s defender Ali Lajami, trying to clear the ball, saw him head it into his own net to make it all square, six minutes after the hour-mark.
It was then Ronaldo stepped up, scoring his 839th career goal as the stadium erupted with his record-breaking strike. The game’s tempo shifted entirely to Al Nassr’s side after it, with Abdulelah Al-Amri and Abdulaziz Saud Al Elewai scoring two goals in two minutes, in the last minutes of the match.
Ronaldo expressed his delight after scoring his first goal for Al Nassr and breaking another record. He said: “I’m very happy to score for Al Nassr and help the team win. It’s always special to break a record and I’m proud of this achievement. I want to thank my teammates and coaches for their support and trust. I hope to continue scoring and helping Al Nassr achieve our goals.”
How many goals has Ronaldo scored in his career?
Ronaldo has scored 839 goals in his career, making him the second-highest goalscorer of all time, behind Josef Bican, who scored 805 goals. Ronaldo has scored 674 goals for his clubs, including Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr. He has also scored 165 goals for Portugal, making him the highest international goalscorer of all time.
Who scored the first goal for Al Nassr?
Anderson Talisca scored the first goal for Al Nassr in the 42nd minute, after receiving a long ball from Marcelo Brozovic. Talisca is a Brazilian midfielder who joined Al Nassr from Guangzhou FC in July 2023.
What is the next match for Al Nassr and Monastir?
Al Nassr will face Zamalek SC, an Egyptian club, on Thursday, August 3, in the last round of group-stage matches. Monastir will face Al Shabab, a Saudi club, on the same day. Both matches will be played at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.
Which team did Ronaldo join Al Nassr from?
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr from Manchester United in June 2023, after spending two seasons with the English club. He signed a two-year contract with Al Nassr, reportedly worth $100 million.
