The quest for footballing immortality continues. As of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo has officially reached the staggering milestone of 960 career goals. The historic strike came during Al-Nassr’s hard-fought 2–1 victory over Damac in the Saudi Pro League.
At 40 years old, the Portuguese icon is now just 40 goals away from the mythical 1,000-goal mark—a target he has publicly stated is his ultimate motivation before retirement.
The Goal: A Clinical Second-Half Strike
After a tense first half where Al-Nassr struggled to convert their dominance, Ronaldo provided the cushion his side desperately needed.
The Build-up: In the 52nd minute, Portugal teammate João Félix—who has been in scintillating form since joining Al-Nassr—played a perfectly weighted through ball into Ronaldo's path.
The Finish: With a trademark single right-footed touch, Ronaldo clipped the ball past the onrushing Damac goalkeeper, Kewin, to make it 2–0.
The Context: This was Ronaldo’s 16th league goal of the 2025/26 season, keeping him at the top of the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot race.
The Career Breakdown: 960 Goals
Ronaldo’s journey to 960 is a map of modern football dominance across five different clubs and the international stage.
Real Madrid,450
Portugal National Team,143
Manchester United,145
Juventus,101
Al-Nassr,116
Sporting CP,5
Total Official Goals,960
The State of the Title Race
While the night belonged to Ronaldo, the victory was essential for Al-Nassr’s dwindling title hopes.
The Gap: The win keeps Al-Nassr 4 points behind leaders Al-Hilal, who have been nearly flawless this season.
The Resilience: Despite a late scare when Damac pulled a goal back through Jamal Harkass, Ronaldo’s leadership ensured Al-Nassr ended a difficult run of results to start the 2026 calendar year.
The Verdict: Critics often point to his age, but Ronaldo’s numbers in 2026 remain undeniable. With a goal every 84 minutes this season, the "Road to 1,000" is no longer a question of if, but when.