Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo today ended the 2023 calendar year as the world’s top scorer with 54 goals as he celebrated a 4-1 victory over Saudi Arabian club Al Nasr at Al Taawon Stadium.
The 38-year-old struck the corner between the posts and the post in the 72nd minute, but he headed up in the 90+2 minute to score his 54th goal, with 44 goals scored for Al Nassr. 10. for the selection of Portugal in 2023.
CR7 went into the 2023 final knowing that England’s Harry Kane of Bayern Munich and France’s Kylian Mbapé of Paris Saint-Germain were one short and would not compete again until 2024.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland had three for 50 but is injured and has not played since December 6, confirming his absence from the final two matches of the year.
In the match of the 18th round of the Saudi League, Al-Taawon converted a penalty confirmed by VAR, in which the Dutchman Ashraf El-Mahdioui scored on the rebound, allowing Nawaf Al-Aqidi to save.
The fourth successive success of Luis Castro’s team in the championship began with a draw in the combination of Talisca and Ronaldo, with the Brazilian then isolating Croatian Marcelo Brozovic for a beautiful goal at 26.
Spanish center Aymeric Laporte’s header from a Croatian corner in the 35th minute completed the turnaround.
At 50, Portuguese midfielder Otavio made it 3-1 by taking advantage of a poor clearance and putting the ball beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.
Having done an excellent job, Al-Nasr made it again in the second of seven minutes of stoppage time thanks to his ‘captain’ after Fofana’s cross from the right.
With this result, Al-Nasr reduced the gap from Al-Hilal leader Jorge Jesus, who has 53, to seven points, holding second place by another six points, to Al-Ahly with 40.