Cristiano Ronaldo reached on Thursday 100 goals in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, prompting comparisons with Lionel Messi and his current record in the MLS. Cristiano Ronaldo’s prolific scoring form has shown no signs of slowing since his arrival at Al Nassr, as the legendary forward just hit the century mark in Saudi Pro League play. As Ronaldo joins an elite circle of goalscorers to reach the 100-goal milestone in the kingdom, the feat naturally reignites the debate with his longtime rival, Lionel Messi, and where the Argentine stands in his own quest for 100 MLS goals. With the 2025-26 SPL season winding down, Al Nassr traveled to Al Shabab for a high-stakes clash essential to maintaining their lead over a surging Al Hilal. With the match deadlocked in a tense 2-1 battle, Ronaldo provided the knockout blow in the 75th minute, clinicaly slotting home a left-footed strike to give the visitors a crucial two-goal cushion. The strike didn’t just cement Al Nassr’s status at the top of the table; it marked Ronaldo’s 100th goal in the Saudi Pro League. Since his debut on January 22, 2023, against Al Ettifaq, the Portuguese icon has reached the century mark in less than four seasons, needing just 105 appearances to do so—an absurd scoring rate that averages nearly a goal per game. The statistical breakdown of Ronaldo’s march to 100 SPL goals is a masterclass in consistency: 2022-23 season: 14 goals in 16 games.2023-24 season: 35 goals in 31 games and Golden Boot winner.2024-25 season: 25 goals in 30 games and Golden Boot winner.2025-26 season: 25 goals in 25 games (current campaign). Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates scoring against Al Shabab. According to Transfermarkt, Ronaldo now sits 6th on the all-time Saudi Pro League scoring list, trailing legends like Omar Al-Somah and Nasser Al-Shamrani. Remarkably, if Al Hilal managed to snatch the title away from Al Nassr this season, Ronaldo could become the only player in league history to score 100 goals without ever lifting the domestic trophy. Tracking Messi’s record in MLS Ronaldo and Messi both exited the European stage within a seven-month window, Ronaldo to Al Nassr in December 2022 and Messi to Inter Miami in July 2023. However, the Argentine maestro has logged significantly fewer minutes stateside, missing a total of 29 MLS matches due to a combination of nagging injuries, international duty, and load management. To date, Lionel Messi has notched 58 goals in 63 MLS appearances for the Herons, leaving him 42 goals shy of the century mark in league play. In his most recent outing against rivals Orlando City, Messi celebrated his 100th official appearance for the Miami franchise across all competitions, bringing his total club tally to 86 goals. When could Messi join the 100-goal club? While Ronaldo hit his milestone with just two fixtures remaining in the Saudi campaign, Messi’s path is complicated by the upcoming 2026 World Cup. However, if the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner maintains his current torrid pace, the “century” remains well within his sights. With 58 goals in 63 league games, Messi is averaging 0.92 goals per contest. At that clip, he would likely need roughly 46 more matches to find the 42 goals required. With 23 regular-season games remaining for Inter Miami in 2026, Messi is on a trajectory to potentially hit the 100-goal milestone sometime during the 2027 MLS season.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th goal in the Saudi Pro league during Al Nassr's 4-2 win over Al Shabab. Al Nassr traveled to face Al Shabab on Thursday, May 7, for Matchday 33 of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League campaign. With the match still in the balance, Cristiano Ronaldo effectively iced the game while simultaneously writing his name further into the history books by reaching the 100-goal milestone in Saudi league play. The visitors came out firing as Joao Felix opened the scoring in just the 3rd minute before doubling the lead in the 10th, courtesy of a brilliant feed from Abdulrahman Ghareeb. Yannick Carrasco managed to pull one back for Al Shabab in the 30th minute following a stunning solo run, briefly reigniting hope for the home side before the Portuguese icon took center stage. The decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute when Sadio Mane gathered a long ball from Felix and whipped a low, dangerous cross into the area. After expertly losing his marker, Ronaldo met the ball with a clinical, first-time left-footed strike to extend the Al Nassr lead to 3-1. هدف! ⚽️كريستيانو رونالدو يسجل الهدف الثالث، ويوسّع الفارق لصالح النصر 🟡🔥#الشباب_النصر | #دوري_روشن_السعودي pic.twitter.com/Y2k5DnanDQ— رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) May 7, 2026 The strike served as his 26th goal of the current campaign and his 100th overall in the competition since his landmark arrival in December 2022. Reaching the century mark in less than four seasons is yet another testament to the enduring clinical edge and massive impact the legendary forward has maintained in Saudi Arabia. While Ali Al-Bulaihi narrowed the gap for the hosts in the 80th minute, Joao Felix put the game to bed in stoppage time, completing his hat trick with a composed penalty in the 98th minute to finalize the 4-2 scoreline. The win push Al Nassr to 82 points through 32 games, extending their lead to five points over Al Hilal, who still hold a critical game in hand. Ronaldo: A persistent menace in the 25-26 SPL Al Nassr have looked dominant throughout the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season under head coach Jorge Jesus, with Ronaldo remaining a vital piece of the puzzle despite turning 41 last February. While he may be a step behind in the Golden Boot race this year, the veteran striker continues to be a tactical nightmare for opposing backlines across the league. Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored against EVERY team in the league this season 🐐💛 https://t.co/f24qhQdqDS— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 7, 2026 According to a milestone highlighted by Al Nassr’s official social media accounts, Ronaldo has now scored against every single team in the Saudi Pro League during this 2025-26 campaign. Though he was held off the scoresheet in the previous 3-2 home victory over Al Shabab back on January 17th, his strike today ensured he completed the “full set,” marking another impressive feat in his storied Saudi tenure.
As Al-Nassr prepares for another defining moment, developments involving Abderrazak Hamdallah and Yannick Carrasco have cast a shadow over Al-Shabab. The spotlight once again falls on Cristiano Ronaldo as developments off the pitch hand Al-Nassr a potential advantage ahead of a crucial derby. As Al-Nassr prepares for another defining moment, developments involving Abderrazak Hamdallah and Yannick Carrasco have cast a shadow over Al-Shabab. The buildup to the Riyadh derby has taken an unexpected turn, with internal conflict at Al-Shabab emerging at the worst possible time. The club now faces questions about squad harmony and readiness, while its rival prepares to capitalize on any instability. For Al-Nassr, the situation presents a timely boost as the club continues its push at the top of the table. The issue at Al-Shabab did not arise overnight, but it escalated dramatically following a disappointing 5-1 defeat in the league. What began as a disagreement quickly evolved into a wider problem that forced the club’s hierarchy to step in. At the heart of the controversy was a heated moment between Hamdallah and Carrasco during a match. A disagreement over decision-making on the pitch led to visible frustration, which later continued beyond the final whistle. il a bien raison jai vu le match du début à la fin malgré la défaite 5-1 je suis rester et j’ai vu un Carrasco horrible et même les journalistes on confirmer que il joue personnelle l’an passé il était blesser et l’équipe était mieux classé il mérite mieux hamdallah pic.twitter.com/lRtZhKNvek— Hamdallah Sati (@hamdallahsati) May 4, 2026 The situation reportedly extended into the dressing room, requiring intervention from staff members to prevent further escalation. What might have been a minor dispute instead turned into a full-blown internal issue, raising concerns about discipline and unity within the squad. Club responds with firm sanctions Al-Shabab has, thus, reacted decisively, making it clear that such behavior would not be tolerated. According to the Arriyadiyah newspaper, the club imposed a series of disciplinary measures on the Moroccan striker, including exclusion from the upcoming clash against Al-Nassr and suspension from team training for seven days. Beyond the immediate suspension, questions are now being raised about Hamdallah’s long-term position at the club. Arriyadiyah also goes on to suggest that his future could be in doubt, with the possibility of an early departure not ruled out. Abderrazak Hamdallah of Al Shabab battling for the ball This was not an isolated incident, either. SBA Sport has reported ongoing tension between Hamdallah and Carrasco throughout the season, indicating that the clash was the culmination of unresolved issues rather than a one-off disagreement. While efforts are believed to be underway to resolve the situation internally, the damage may already have been done. The incident has exposed deeper issues within the squad, leaving the club with a difficult balancing act between discipline and stability. Golden opportunity for Al-Nassr For Al-Nassr, the timing of this crisis could hardly be better. Facing an opponent dealing with internal disruption, Jorge Jesus and his player have a clear opportunity to strengthen their position in the league standings. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr. With Ronaldo continuing to deliver on the pitch with 25 goals this season, the focus now shifts to whether the Knight of Najd can take full advantage of the situation. The absence of a key attacking figure from the opposition may prove decisive in a match where margins are often thin.
After a humbling 3-1 defeat against Al Qadsiah, Cristiano Ronaldo made a ‘one mission’ message to his teammates after Al Nassr's winning streak came to an end. Al Nassr’s record-breaking winning streak came to a halt on Sunday as Al Qadsiah handed them their first defeat in over 100 days. Despite the 3-1 setback in Saudi Pro League action, Cristiano Ronaldo sent a motivational message to his teammates as they enter the final sprint of the title race. Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat opened the scoring for Al Qadsiah before Joao Felix found the equalizer in the 39th minute. However, the tide turned in the second half, with Musab Al Juwayr and Mexico international Julian Quinones finding the net to seal the result against an Al Nassr side that appeared to run out of ideas. Ronaldo remained vocal after the match despite being unable to find the back of the net himself. “One mission. We keep working. TOGETHER!,” the Portuguese legend posted on social media, calling for his teammates to maintain their focus in the wake of the significant blow. While Quinones extended his lead at the top of the SPL Golden Boot race, now sitting on 29 goals, Ronaldo struggled to keep pace with the Mexican star. In a game where Al Nassr found clear looks hard to come by, Ronaldo’s best opportunities came in the 37th minute when he rattled the bar, and again in stoppage time with a shot that grazed the right post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) For the team, the defeat served as a major reality check, marking the first time Al Nassr has dropped points since January 12th while snapping a 16-game winning streak in the SPL and a 20-game run across all competitions. On that previous occasion, Ronaldo’s side also fell 3-1 to Al Hilal; exactly 111 days later, they suffer a nearly identical loss at a critical juncture of the season. What’s next for Al Nassr? Al Nassr remains at the top of the Saudi Pro League with 79 points through 31 games, but Al Hilal, who hold a game in hand, could cut the gap from five points to two when they face Al Khaleej midweek. Nevertheless, the push for the league title still rests in Al Nassr’s hands with only three games remaining. Following Sunday’s loss, Al Nassr travels to face Al Shabab on Thursday, May 7th. That matchup serves as the precursor to a massive, title-deciding showdown against Al Hilal on May 12th at Al Awwal Park.
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