Ronaldo moves closer to 1000 goals with the brace at AFC Champions League

At the age of 39 Cristiano Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down. In the AFC Champions league match against Al-Gharafa on 25 November he scored two goals to help his side AL-Nassr win 3-1. And with this brace Ronaldo’s goal tally now stands at 913.

During the 46th minute of the match Ronaldo scored a wonderful header and on the 64th minute from inside the box he finished beautifully with his right leg to complete his brace for the night.

With the win against Al-Gharafa, Al-Nassr has climbed to the second position of group B of the AFC Champions League having 13 points in five matches.  

Al-Ahli is leading the points table having 15 points in the five matches they played and Al-Hilal is in the third place of the table with 12 points having one match in hand and if they win that match, they will overtake Al-Nassr.

At the end of the match, Ronaldo, who helped his team win by scoring two goals, said,

"My first and last focus is to secure victory for the team. Performing as a team will bring goals and I always focus on scoring and winning. If the team wins, I‍‍`m happy. I dedicate this win to the fans and the club.”  

Ronaldo is flying recently scoring in all the three matches he played recently. After scoring the brace last night, he has now scored five goals in last three matches.

Before scoring his brace at AFC Champions League Ronaldo scored two goals for Portugal in The Nations League against Poland and scored another goal in the next match he played for his club against Al-Qadsiah.

Ronaldo who had recently achieved the magnificent feat of becoming the first player in the history of game to reach 900 goals, upon asking about his thoughts on scoring 1000, had said that he was not thinking of that and wanted to enjoy the game and wanted to focus on present.

But seeing his recent form and the way he is increasing his goal tally by scoring goals in almost every match, it doesn’t seem that the day is far when he scores 1000 goals.

Ronaldo’s unbent will and dedication doesn’t seem to decrease even at the age of 39. His fitness and his will power outshines most of the young players.

He has scored 13 goals in 17 matches so far this season for Al-Nassr and also has three assists.

In 2024 he has scored a total of 40 goals till now and these numbers are not of any player who is at his prime, these are numbers of Cristiano Ronaldo who many have said is finished.

With the brace he scored at the AFC Champions League, Ronaldo has set yet another record being the only player to have 550 goals and assists after turning 30. And it will be a while before anyone can break or touch his numbers.

The old Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong and proving many pundits wrong. Even after achieving almost everything Ronaldo hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

Where players start to lose form and fitness after 30, Ronaldo has excelled after becoming 30.

Big stars such as Sneijder, Ronaldo (R9) were not only finished by 39, they are far from playing any professional football.

Even before reaching Ronaldo’s age, many players have gone to comparatively easies and under ranked leagues and mostly rely on the team mates.

But Ronaldo is made different he didn’t only go to a small league; he uplifted the league by attracting many high-class players to come and join the league.

Saudi Pro League has undoubtedly developed a lot having players like Sadio Mane, Karim Banzema, Neymar Jr., Laporte and many more big names of the game and all of this only after Cristiano Ronaldo had decided to play in this league. And many consider this the G.O.A.T effect.

After his arrival the way the competitiveness of Saudi Pro League has increased only solidifies that statement.  

And now this living legend has his eyes set for the magical number 1000. And by the display Ronaldo is showing, that day isn’t far-fetched when he will reach that record as well.

Cristiano Ronaldo, not one of the greats, but the greatest of the game and his numbers backs up that statement.   

Ronaldo’s winning mentality and hunger for goals has taken him this far, and after having no records to break, his hunger still isn’t satisfied and now he sets new records.

Football world could never produce another goal-machine like Cristiano Ronaldo, no one knows if it can ever.