INTERNATIONAL
Cristiano Ronaldo, aging like fine wine
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored again for Al Nassr, bringing his post-30 goal tally to an astonishing 414, equaling the career total of Ronaldo Nazario.
As connoisseurs of fine wine often remark, the older, the better. This adage rings true for Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 39, continues to dominate in the opposition’s box, proving time and again that age is but a number for him as he shatters record after record.
Ronaldo Nazario’s scored a career total of 414 goals - a milestone the Portuguese star has now matched, but only counting the goals he’s netted since turning 30. Moreover, Cristiano Ronaldo has edged past French striker Thierry Henry’s goal count by one.
Since ringing in his 39th birthday, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in four consecutive matches, extending his streak to nine games where he has managed to score in official competitions. The last time he didn’t score was on December 1, 2023, in a 3-0 defeat to Al Hilal.
Cristiano, hungry for more titles
The Portuguese phenomenon is on a quest to not only amass personal accolades but to also add more team trophies to his collection, whether with Al Nassr or the Portuguese national team. His next big challenge will be in June at the Euro Cup in Germany.
“Cristiano will be around for a while yet. His daily dedication speaks volumes about how his body will hold up. If his body and his love for football keep up, we’ll be seeing him for a long time. For a player past 30, every additional year is a gift. What he’s doing is enjoying football. He’s experiencing a sweet moment in Arabia,” acknowledged Portugal’s manager Roberto Martínez during a press conference in October 2023.
Al Nassr is currently four points behind Saudi leader Al Hilal, but they have also reached the Quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League, where they are set to face off against the United Arab Emirates league second placed side, Al Ain.