The finishes are still flowing for Al-Nassr but, at 40, his future for club and country is under increasing scrutiny
On Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo can take a big step towards a first major trophy since moving to Saudi Arabia but the quarter-final of the Asian Champions League against Yokohama F Marinos also offers a chance to take a smaller stride towards an unprecedented personal milestone: 1,000 first-class goals.
Pelé scored plenty but claims of 1,279, recognised by the Guinness World Records, included unofficial and exhibition games and perhaps, wondered Diego Maradona, backyard games against his nephews. The stats site RSSSF credits the Brazilian with a total of 778.
Ronaldo has 933. This month, after scoring twice for Al-Nassr in a 3-1 win over Al-Hilal in the Riyadh derby, he played it down. “Guys, let’s enjoy the moment, the present,” he said. “I’m not following 1,000 [goals]. If it’s yes, perfect. If it’s not, it’s not.”
In a chat with Rio Ferdinand last August, however, he was more bullish. “For me it’s the best mark that I can have in football, to reach, first 900 goals. After, my challenge is 1,000 goals,” he said, adding that there were also no doubts about his number even if he wasn’t quite as cheeky as Maradona. “All the goals that I score, they have video. So I can prove that it’s [real] … But if I don’t have injuries, I want that [goal tally].”
At the age of 40, games and scoring opportunities are running out even for a player in such fine physical condition, but the goals are still flowing. Last season Ronaldo broke the Saudi Pro League record with 35. This season he also tops the standings with 23. There are rumours that Gianni Infantino wants him to receive an invitation from one of the 32 teams at the Club World Cup (well, 31, as he is never going to appear for Nassr’s bitter rivals Al-Hilal) and potentially play a few more games this summer. As well as further international appearances with Portugal from June – he scored international goal number 136, a men’s record of course, against Denmark in March – there should be more than one Asian Champions League game in the coming days.
