Al Nassr visited Al Hilal in a pivotal Saudi Pro League clash on Matchday 26, a fixture that could have pushed them out of the title race. Instead, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up with an MVP performance to keep his team in contention—and later addressed his pursuit of the elusive 1,000-goal milestone.
The match carried major implications, and Al Nassr rose to the occasion. Just before halftime, Ali Al-Hassan opened the scoring with a stunning strike from the edge of the box, firing the ball into the top corner.
Shortly after the break, Ronaldo took over. In the 47th minute, Sadio Mane teed him up on a counterattack, and the Portuguese legend unleashed a powerful left-footed finish to double the lead. Al Hilal pulled one back through Ali Al-Bulaihi in the 62nd minute, but Ronaldo sealed the win from the penalty spot in the 88th, securing a 3-1 away victory.
The result lifts Al Nassr to third place with 54 points through 26 matches, just three points behind second-place Al Hilal (57). League leaders Al Ittihad—featuring Karim Benzema—top the table with 61 points from 25 games. With eight matches remaining, the title race is wide open.
Cristiano Ronaldo on the 1,000-Goal chase
Ronaldo’s brace not only earned Al Nassr a vital three points but also brought his career goal tally to 931—intensifying speculation about whether he can reach 1,000 before retirement. When asked about the milestone post-match, Ronaldo offered a composed response.
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“Let’s enjoy the moment, the present. I’m not chasing 1,000 goals. If it is, yes, perfect, if it’s not, then no. The moment is the most special thing, not what it’s gonna come. I enjoyed the moment, it was a great win, not because I scored— I’m happy to score two goals against Al Hilal— but the most important it’s to win the derby,” Cristiano Ronaldo said to the SPL.
“We played against a fantastic team away.” Ronaldo added. “It’s always difficult, and we have to appreciate (the moment) and we have to continue because nine games left, with one more in the Champions League, everything is possible. We have to continue and believe,” he ended his statement.
With nine matches remaining between the league and the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals, Ronaldo still has time to pad his numbers. However, with his contract expiring in June 2025, he’ll soon have to make a decision about his future if he hopes to reach the 1,000-goal mark.
