Cristiano Ronaldo ends 2023 with 54 goals as Al Nassr ease past Al Taawoun - in pictures

Portuguese forward completes year as most prolific player in world football

BURAYDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 30: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after winning the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Taawoun and Al-Nassr at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh / Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo on the ball during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Taawoun and Al Nassr. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al Nassr teammates celebrate in front ot the fans. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo runs with the ball during Al Nassr's game against Al Taawoun. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring Al Nassr's fourth goal. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo is congratulated by teammates after scoring Al Nassr's fourth goal. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo connects with a header to score Al Nassr's fourth goal. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo directs his header towards goal to score Al Nassr's fourth goal in the 4-1 win. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with teammate Seko Fofana, who supplied the cross for his goal. Getty Images

Cristino Ronaldo remonstrates with the referee after receiving a yellow card. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo runs with the ball during the Saudi Pro League match. Getty Images

Marcelo Brozovic shrugs off a challenge during the Saudi Pro League match. Getty Images

Marcelo Brozovic celebrates with teammates after scoring Al Nassr's opening goal. Getty Images

Aymeric Laporte celebrates after scoring Al Nassr's second goal against Al Taawoun. Getty Images

AL Nassr players celebrate with Aymeric Laporte after he scored the second goal. Getty Images

Otavio shoots to score Al Nassr's third goal against Al Taawoun. Getty Images

Otavio celebrates after scoring Al Nassr's third goal. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo takes a quick drink before the start of the game. Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo capped his year as the leading goalscorer in world football with another goal as Al Nassr continued their fine form with a 4-1 victory at Al Taawoun on Saturday.

Already assured of his place at the top of the standings, Ronaldo made sure by adding his 54th goal of 2023 with a header in injury time at King Abdullah Stadium. The 38-year-old Portuguese forward finishes ahead of Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane and Paris Saint-Germain and France star Kylian Mbappe (both 52 goals).

Erling Haaland may have run Ronaldo close but a foot injury in recent weeks left the Manchester City and Norway striker on 50 goals.

Ronaldo's goal on Saturday was his 20th in just 18 Saudi Pro League games this season and takes his overall tally since moving to the club to 38 in 44 appearances across all competitions.

It also completed a fine fightback from Nassr, who fell behind to Aschraf El Mahdioui's 13th-minute goal when the Dutch midfielder tapped in after Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi had saved his initial penalty.

Nassr got themselves level in the 26th minute as Marcelo Brozovic finished off a lovely team move, the Croatian midfielder running onto the end of Anderson Talisca's through-ball.

The Riyadh giants took the lead nine minutes later when Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte rose to head home Brozovic's corner.

With the lead established, Nassr continued to dominate and extended their advantage five minutes after the restart as Otavio capitalised on a defensive mistake to score from inside the area.

Ronaldo had several chances to extend Nassr's lead and add to his record but he shot wide after rounding the goalkeeper and then hit the post with another effort. His goal eventually came in the first minute of injury time when he rose highest to nod home Seko Fofana's cross.

Following the match, Ronaldo referred to his year-long goal tally and his late goal against Al Taawoun, writing on Instagram: "54 – I’ll say when it’s finished!"

The victory cements Nassr in second place in the Saudi Pro League table and provides a valuable three points if they are to have any chance of closing down Al Hilal; the runaway leaders hold a seven-point advantage.

Taawoun remain in fourth following a superb season so far, although back-to-back defeats have halted their momentum.