Cristiano Ronaldo capped off a remarkable year with his 54th goal of 2023, a late header sealing a 4-1 victory for Al Nassr against Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday. The Portuguese superstar, defying doubters at 38, finished the calendar year two goals clear of fierce rivals Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, firmly claiming the title of world’s top scorer.
Ronaldo’s final triumph wasn’t a simple stroll though. After early goals from Marcelo Brozovic, Aymeric Laporte, and Otavio put Al Nassr in control, controversy struck in the 11th minute. A VAR review awarded Al-Taawoun a penalty, leaving Ronaldo frustrated and earning him a yellow card for dissent. Aschraf El Mahdioui converted the rebound for Al-Taawoun, momentarily threatening Ronaldo’s scoring spree.
But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wouldn’t be denied. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Ronaldo rose above the defense to meet a cross with a powerful header, sending the crowd into a frenzy and confirming his dominance in the global goal-scoring race.
The Al Nassr clash marked Ronaldo’s 50th appearance for the club, a journey that began in January and yielded an astonishing 44 goals. Adding his 10 international strikes for Portugal, Ronaldo leaves 2023 with a staggering 54 goals in 59 games, a testament to his enduring quality and unwavering hunger for goals.
Ronaldo’s feat leaves Kane and Mbappe trailing just behind with 52 goals each, while Erling Haaland rounds out the 50+ club with a formidable 50 goals. However, none could match the consistent brilliance of the Portuguese legend, who, even in the twilight of his career, continues to rewrite history and prove his place as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
As the curtain closes on 2023, one thing is clear: Cristiano Ronaldo is still the king of the goalscorers, and his reign shows no signs of abating.