Cristiano Ronaldo scores 50th goal of 2023 in Al Nassr win

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 50th goal of the year in Al Nassr's King's Cup quarter-final victory over rivals Al Shabab on Monday.

The 38-year-old reached the milestone by scoring Al Nassr's fourth goal in their 5-2 win.

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The Portuguese striker last scored 50 goals in a calendar year in 2017, when he scored 53 times for Real Madrid.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored 16 goals in 15 Saudi Pro League games this season, but his side trail league leaders Al Hilal by seven points as the season reaches its halfway point.

Ronaldo played the 1,200th match of his professional career last Friday, scoring a goal and an assist in Al Nassr's 4-1 win over Al Riyad.

The former Manchester United striker scored 869 goals in his career.

Ronaldo and Al Nassr will face Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the Riyadh Season Cup on February 1, 2024, it was confirmed on Monday.

Messi and Ronaldo have faced each other 36 times over the years in club and country matches, with Messi's teams winning 16, Ronaldo's teams winning 11 and nine ending in a draw. The Argentine striker has 22 goals and 11 assists in these matches; Ronaldo has 21 goals and one assist.

Al Nassr will host Steven Gerrad's Al Ettifaq in their next Saudi Pro League match on December 22.