Ending his first complete campaign in the Saudi Pro League on a high note, Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals in one season this Monday. During the final matchday, the 39-year-old Portuguese forward scored twice in a 4-2 victory over Al Ittihad, bringing his seasonal tally to 35. This achievement sees him overtake Abderrazak Hamdallah, the former Al Nassr and Moroccan striker who held the record with 34 goals from 2018-19.
Cristiano Ronaldo finished his first full Saudi Pro League season in style, breaking the record for most goals scored in a single campaign on Monday. The 39-year-old Portuguese forward scored twice in his team’s 4-2 victory over Al Ittihad on the last matchday, bringing his league total to 35 goals this season. The previous record was set by former Al Nassr striker and Moroccan international Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 34 goals in 2018-19.
Ronaldo, who brought a wealth of experience from his time at Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, signed with Al Nassr in early 2023. In the final moments of the first half, after two of his goals were disallowed for offside, he managed to chest a long pass from Mohammed Al-Fatil and slot the ball home from the left side of the box.
With about 20 minutes left to play, the legendary five-time Ballon d’Or winner celebrated a goal scored via a header from a Marcelo Brozovic corner. He was substituted just five minutes later, receiving a standing ovation from the home fans. Ronaldo's eventful season included four hat-tricks but also a red card. Furthermore, he faced a suspension in February after reacting poorly to Al Shabab supporters who were taunting him by shouting Lionel Messi's name.
Even with Ronaldo's personal success, it was a frustrating year for an Al Nassr squad packed with world-class talent like Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic. Despite their star power, the team finished second in the league behind Al Hilal and failed to secure any silverware in either the Saudi Cup or the Asian Champions League.
Al Hilal proved to be an unstoppable force, even despite the loss of Neymar, who arrived from PSG in August but was sidelined in October by a severe ACL injury. The season concluded with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring a last-second goal to secure a 2-1 win over Al Wehda. The Serbian forward, who joined from Fulham last year, finished the campaign with 27 goals, trailing only Ronaldo in the scoring charts.
During their title run, Al Hilal achieved a historic milestone by winning 34 consecutive matches across all competitions, setting a new global record for a top-flight club. Coach Jorge Jesus described the season as truly extraordinary and potentially the best in the club's history. He attributed this success to the exceptional talent in the squad and a deep sense of unity that extends beyond the football pitch.