Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 26th goal of the season as Al Nassr swept aside rivals Al Shabab to reach the semi-finals of the Saudi King Cup.
Ronaldo netted his side’s fourth in a 5-2 win with 16 minutes of the match remaining. It was his 26th goal in 28 matches for the Saudi Pro League club so far this 2023/24 season.
It took the prolific Portuguese to 50 goals for the calendar year, the eighth time he has managed that feat.
That's some way short of his best return, set in 2013 when the then Real Madrid striker netted an incredible 69 goals for club and country, though he still has three more fixtures left in 2023.
Most goals in a calendar year
That record belongs to Ronaldo's nemesis Lionel Messi.
In 2012, Messi scorched 91 goals for Barcelona (79) and Argentina (12) – a record unlikely to be touched any time soon.
The closest any player has come in Messi's era is the 69 set by Ronaldo (2013) and Robert Lewandowski (2021) during the Poland striker's final year at Bayern Munich.
The previous record for most goals in a calendar year was Gerd Muller's 85 for Bayern Munich and West Germany in 1972.
Other great scorers to enjoy incredible goal returns in a calendar year include Brazil legends Pele (75 goals in 1958; 72 goals in 1965), Zico (72 goals in 1979) and Romario (72 goals in 2000).
Most 50+ goals in a calendar year
That record belongs to Messi, also.
Messi, 36, has scored 50+ goals in a calendar year nine times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019). Though his goals output has slowed in recent times his influence is a strong as ever as was evident during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when Messi scored twice in the final as well as in the penalty shoot-out in their victory over France.
Players with most 50+ goals in a calendar year
Josef Bican – Four times
Pele – Five times
Gerd Muller – Five times
Cristiano Ronaldo – Eight times
Lionel Messi – Nine times
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
The Word for Woman is Wilderness
Abi Andrews, Serpent’s Tail
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
