Cristiano Ronaldo said reaching the remarkable 1,000 career goals milestone is not on top of his mind and insisted he is focused only on a strong end to the season after playing a major role in Al Nassr's impressive 3-1 win over Riyadh rivals Al Hilal over the weekend.
In the first of three matches in the Saudi Pro League’s derby week, Al Nassr made a commanding start with a stunning opener from midfielder Ali Al Hassan in first-half stoppage time.
Ronaldo scored his first goal of the night two minutes after the interval with a thumping close-range finish before Al Hilal reduced the deficit through defender Ali Al Bulayhi’s header in the 63rd minute.
Any hopes Al Hilal had of rescuing a point from the match were dashed in the 87th minute when Ronaldo converted a penalty, which was awarded to the visitors following a VAR check.
The Portuguese superstar dispatched the spot kick straight down the middle for his 21st Saudi Pro League goal of the season.
The result leaves second-placed Al Hilal on 57 points, while Al Nassr in third closed the gap by moving to 54 points. With eight games left for both teams, the stage is set for a thrilling finish at the top of the table.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, looks on course for his second successive SPL golden boot.
The Portuguese superstar, 40, leads the league scoring charts, four goals ahead of Al Shabab striker Abderrazak Hamdallah and Al Hilal’s Marcos Leonardo.
Since arriving at Al Nassr in January 2023, Ronaldo has been typically prolific, scoring 70 goals in 72 league matches and 88 in all competitions for the Riyadh club, taking his career tally for club and country to 931.
His double against Al Hilal put the focus back on Ronaldo reaching the four-digit mark, but the Al Nassr captain said that his only thoughts are on a successful end to the season.
“Guys, let's enjoy the moment, the present. I'm not following 1,000 [goals]. If it’s yes, perfect. If it’s not, it’s not. The moment is the most special thing, not what is going to come, you know?” Ronaldo told Saudi Pro League.
“I enjoy the moment. It was a great win, not because I scored – of course, I'm happy to score two goals against Al Hilal – but the most important thing is to win the derby. We played against a fantastic team, away; it's always difficult.
“We have to appreciate [the win] and we have to continue, because nine games left with the one more in the [AFC] Champions League [Elite]. Everything is possible. We have to continue and believe.”
While Ronaldo has been a revelation during his time in Saudi football, major honours have so far eluded the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
A first league title remains an outside possibility – Al Nassr trail leaders Al Ittihad by eight points – and they are well placed in the AFC Champions League Elite, where they face Yokohama F. Marines in the quarter-finals. The first leg is in Japan on April 26.
Ronaldo was not keen on making any predictions for the season but said Al Nassr will fight until the very end.
“To be honest, I don’t know because football sometimes is crazy,” he said.
“But we have to do our job, we have to carry on, believe. Because, as I said before: in football, everything is possible. So, it's a great win today. I hope this victory gives a lot of confidence to the team because we need it for the next games and the Champions League as well. And enjoy the moment.”
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
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The specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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The Saudi Cup race card
1 The Jockey Club Local Handicap (TB) 1,800m (Dirt) $500,000
2 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (TB) 1,200m (D) $1.500,000
3 The 1351 Turf Sprint 1,351m (Turf) $1,000,000
4 The Saudi Derby (TB) 1600m (D) $800,000
5 The Neom Turf Cup (TB) 2,100m (T) $1,000,000
6 The Obaiya Arabian Classic (PB) 2,000m (D) $1,900,000
7 The Red Sea Turf Handicap (TB) 3,000m (T) $2,500,000
8 The Saudi Cup (TB) 1,800m (D) $20,000,000
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
