Cristiano Ronaldo is still flying high at the age of 38. The Portuguese and Al-Nassr striker continued his hot form in the international break to climb to the summit of the goal-scoring charts.
Ronaldo now has 40 goals for club and country in 12 different calendar years. The Portuguese striker bounced back from 2022, where he scored only 16 goals in 46 appearances. He first scored 40+ goals in a calendar year back in 2010, and since then he has been scoring 40+ goals every year, with the only exception coming in 2022.
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The striker endured a tough second spell at Manchester United in 2022 due to restricted playing time. He moved on from the English club after an explosive interview with Piers Morgan and joined Al-Nassr in January 2023. Since joining the Saudi side, he has scored 25 goals and eight assists in 30 appearances.
The Portuguese striker came on top ahead of other quality players like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Haaland has scored 39 goals so far for Norway and Manchester City. Meanwhile, Mbappe has scored 35 goals for PSG and France.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now registered 40+ goals in 12 different calendar years. 🤯🔥
2023: 40 goals
2021: 47 goals
2020: 44 goals
2018: 49 goals
2017: 53 goals
2016: 55 goals
2015: 57 goals
2014: 61 goals
2013: 69 goals
2012: 63 goals
2011: 60 goals
2010: 48 goals38… pic.twitter.com/d6cm10lH9O
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) October 16, 2023
Ronaldo’s dominance at the age of 38 garnered admiration from some sections of fans. Comments like “Man’s 38 and still outperforming players in their 20’s you can’t hate,” “No way bro is 38,” and “Get him back in the ballon d’or talks,’ echoed the sentiments of the fans.
However, the majority of the fans took a jab at Ronaldo’s exploits by pointing out the quality of the Saudi Pro League. Comments like “1 epl goal=57 Saudi goals,” “It’s not like he’s playing in Saudi Arabia or something,” and “with the help of penalties btw,” were some of the jabs from the fans who trolled Ronaldo.
Ronaldo will now return to Al-Nassr to continue his hot streak in the new season. He has scored 11 goals and six assists in 11 matches for the Saudi club in all competitions.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace against Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ronaldo scored another brace for Portugal to help them register a 5-0 thumping of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The win takes Portugal to 24 points in Group J of the qualifiers for the 2024 UEFA Euro in Germany. They have won all of their eight games in qualifying and have scored 32 goals in the process while only conceding two.
Portugal already booked their place in the next year’s tournament before traveling to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a penalty. He then added a second in the 20th minute. Bruno Fernandes added the third in the 25th minute before the Barcelona duo, João Félix and João Cancelo, joined the party to add to the scoreline.
🇧🇦The Bosnia fans chant ‘SIIIU’ as Cristiano Ronaldo scores for Portugal against their own team.
[@harismrkonjan1]pic.twitter.com/oRT5dKDD2N
— Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) October 16, 2023
Portugal took the foot off the gas pedal in the second half but maintained control over the proceedings to register another clean sheet in the process. The team looks settled and clicking under the new management of former Belgium boss Roberto Martinez.
Cristiano Ronaldo will now travel back to Al-Nassr to play four matches in three different competitions in the span of 10 days. The Portuguese will face Damac and Al-Feiha in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Duhail in the AFC Champions League, and Al-Ettifaq in the King Cup of Champions.