Cristiano Ronaldo Sends a Clear Message to the Saudi Pro League
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — Stop waiting for the decline. It isn’t coming. Cristiano Ronaldo just reminded the world—and his competition in the Saudi Pro League—that his obsession with the back of the net remains as sharp as ever. Following Al Nassr’s latest outing, the captain took to social media to signal that he is nowhere near finished, even as he approaches his 40th birthday in a few weeks.
The Hunt for 1,000 Career Goals
While most players at his age are transitioning to veteran leadership roles or exhibition matches, Ronaldo is still carrying the heaviest workload in Riyadh. He currently leads Al Nassr in **minutes played and total shots on target**, acting as the primary engine for an offense that refuses to let Al Hilal run away with the league title.
The numbers behind his 2024-25 campaign are staggering. Ronaldo is currently averaging **nearly 1.1 goals per match**, a rate that has him firmly in the hunt for his first Saudi Pro League trophy. His conditioning hasn’t dipped; tracking data shows he is still hitting top speeds of **32 km/h in transition**, forcing younger defenders to play on their heels. This isn’t just about individual glory; Al Nassr sits just **four points back from the top spot**, and every goal Ronaldo secures keeps the pressure on a perfect Al Hilal side that finally looks like it might blink.
Inside the Huddle
“The hunger you see on the pitch isn’t an act. He stays for two hours after training ends, working on the same set-pieces he’s been hitting for twenty years. When your leader is the hardest worker in the building, you don’t have an excuse to give 90%.” — Source within the Al Nassr Coaching Staff
The Bottom Line & What’s Next
The road ahead for Al Nassr is brutal. They have a looming clash in the AFC Champions League knockout stages, followed by a domestic schedule that offers zero room for error. Ronaldo is clearly peaking at the right time, looking more mobile than he did during the Euro 2024 tournament.
Expect the 1,000-goal conversation to dominate the headlines for the rest of the season. He is currently sitting in the high 800s, and at this current pace, he could feasibly hit the historic milestone by the end of the 2025 calendar year. For Al Nassr, the focus is simpler: keep Ronaldo healthy. If he stays on the pitch, they have a legitimate chance to snatch the crown away from Al Hilal. The “Final Chapter” of his career is looking more like a brand-new book. Watch the next three matches—if he maintains this scoring clip, the title race is officially a toss-up.
