Forty at Forty: Cristiano Ronaldo’s 14th Year of Scoring 40 Goals

Age, it seems, continues to bend to the will of Cristiano Ronaldo. At 40 years old, when most footballers are long retired or confined to nostalgic appearances, the Portuguese icon is still redefining elite performance. On Saturday night in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo delivered yet another emphatic reminder of his enduring greatness, scoring twice in Al Nassr’s commanding 3–0 victory over Al Akhdoud.

Those two goals carried significance far beyond the result. They took Ronaldo’s tally for the current calendar year to 40 goals across all competitions—an extraordinary achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that he has reached this milestone at the age of 40. In doing so, he recorded his 14th different year with at least 40 goals, a level of consistency virtually unmatched in modern football.

Ronaldo first crossed the 40-goal threshold back in 2010, during the peak of his early years at Real Madrid. Since then, he has managed to score no fewer than 40 goals in every year of his career except 2019. The 2024 season is not yet complete, and with fixtures still to come—most notably Al Nassr’s match against Al Ettifaq on 30 December—there is every chance he will push that total even higher.

Match Report: Al Nassr vs Al Akhdoud :

Playing at their home ground, Al Awwal Park, Al Nassr dominated proceedings from the opening whistle. Buoyed by a packed and passionate crowd, the hosts controlled possession and tempo, pressing Al Akhdoud deep into their own half. However, despite sustained pressure, the breakthrough did not arrive until the 31st minute.

That opening goal came from a set-piece. João Félix swung in a corner, chaos ensued inside the penalty area, and the ball fell kindly to Ronaldo. With the composure that has defined his career, he made no mistake, firing the ball into the net.

The second goal arrived almost immediately after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Marcelo Brozović threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the box. Ronaldo met it with a sublime backheel finish—an audacious and technically brilliant effort that doubled Al Nassr’s lead and drew roars of admiration from the stands.

Al Akhdoud never recovered. In stoppage time, João Félix added a third goal in the 94th minute, sealing a comprehensive victory for the league leaders.

Records, Milestones and the Road to 1,000 Goals :

With this brace, Ronaldo’s career goal tally has now risen to 956, bringing him tantalisingly close to the previously unimaginable landmark of 1,000 professional goals. In the current Saudi Pro League season alone, he has already scored 12 goals.

The win strengthened Al Nassr’s grip on the top of the league table. After 11 matches, they sit on 30 points and have achieved 10 consecutive league victories—a feat never before accomplished in the club’s history.

Key Statistics at a Glance :

Ronaldo was duly named Man of the Match, capping another imperious performance. After the game, he addressed his 105 million followers on X (formerly Twitter) with a message that encapsulates his philosophy:
“There is only one path to success—hard work.”