Cristiano Ronaldo makes history in Saudi Pro League after difficult start in 2026: Al-Nassr captain secures immortality after breaking club’s goals record

However, the opening weeks of 2026 were anything but smooth Christiano Ronaldo once again found a way to bend the story in his favor. After a difficult start to the calendar year in Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese icon delivered a decisive evening that not only stabilized the season, but also cemented his name deeper in the legacy of Al-Nassr. What initially seemed like just another routine fixture in the league quickly became something much more important as Ronaldo reminded everyone that history often follows him – even when momentum seems lost.

The match itself was played quickly. Al-Nassr needed stability, belief and goals after conceding ground in the title race, and once again Ronaldo was at the center of the response. Jorge Jesus’ players entered into confrontation Lust under pressure. A four-match winless run earlier in the season had cost the club their grip on top spot, exposing defensive fragility and inconsistency at key moments. Although a dramatic 3-2 win over Al Shabab had restored confidence days earlier, the task against Damac carried its own weight.

Damac emerged as one of the weakest teams in the league, hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone with just one win from fifteen games. Anything less than three points would have increased doubts surrounding Al-Nassr’s title ambitions. From the opening minutes the gap in quality was clear.

Al-Nassr struck early, asserting dominance through possession and movement. Abdulrahman Ghareeb opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a composed finish in the penalty area to set the tone for the evening. Ronaldo himself came close before half-time, rising well to meet a cross, but was denied by a sharp save from the rival goalkeeper. Still, the feeling lingered that the match required a definitive statement. That happened shortly after halftime.

Five minutes into the second half, Joao Felix collected the ball just outside the penalty area and delivered a perfectly balanced assist. Ronaldo did the rest. With a single right foot strikehe guided the ball past goalkeeper Kewin, doubling the lead and sealing the outcome. The goal marked Ronaldo’s 960th career total and 16th of the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League season, cementing his position as the competition’s top scorer with an average of one goal per match.

The hidden milestone revealed

Only after the final whistle did the full extent of the achievement become clear. That strike wasn’t just an addition to Ronaldo’s personal numbers; it rewrote Al-Nassr’s internal history. Cristiano Ronaldo has now become Al-Nassr’s highest scoring foreign player, with 116 goals for the club. The record was previously owned by Abderrazak Hamdallahwho scored 115 goals during a prolific period between 2018 and 2021.

The Portuguese superstar, who arrived in Saudi Arabia in early 2023, now sits alone at the top of that list. In doing so, he joined an elite chapter in the club’s history, joining domestic legends such as Majed Abdullah and Mohammad Al-Sahlawi in the wider all-time rankings.