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Cristiano Ronaldo reaches 981 career goals in Al-Nassr victory
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his 981st professional career goal during Al-Nassr’s 3-1 victory over Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League Elite. The goal brings the 41-year-old forward just 19 goals away from the historic 1,000-goal milestone.
The match in Riyadh was delayed by approximately one hour due to a security alert involving intercepted ballistic missiles from Houthi rebels, causing players to briefly return to the locker rooms. Despite the tension, Ronaldo scored in the 42nd minute following an assist from Ayman Yahya.
Off the pitch, Ronaldo is facing disciplinary scrutiny from the Portuguese Football Federation following his controversial departure from the national team camp during the UEFA Nations League. Amidst these tensions, Ronaldo has reaffirmed his status in the debate over the greatest player of all time, stating, “The best in history is me, full stop,” and arguing that his statistical records and completeness as a player justify his claim over rivals like Lionel Messi, Pelé, and Diego Maradona.
Entities
AFC Champions League · Al Nassr · Al-Nassr · Al-Nassr FC · Bayern Munich · CNN Portugal · Cristiano Ronaldo · Jonas Urbig · Jorge Jesus · Lionel Messi · Manuel Neuer · Neftchi Fergana