Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of the 1,000-goal milestone reached a new peak this weekend. Returning from a month-long injury layoff, the 41-year-old superstar scored twice to lead Al Nassr to a commanding 5-2 victory over Al-Najmah in the Saudi Pro League.

The brace brings Ronaldo’s career total to 967 goals, leaving him just 33 shy of a historic quadruple-digit tally that no other professional footballer has ever officially reached.

The match at Al-Awwal Park saw Al Nassr overcome an early scare to secure a dominant victory, fueled by the return of their captain. After Al-Najmah took a surprising lead late in the first half, Al Nassr responded through goals from Abdullah Al Hamdan and Sadio Mane. Ronaldo took center stage in the second half, restoring the lead with a clinical penalty before doubling his tally in the 73rd minute to reach his 967th career goal. Despite being on the verge of a hat-trick, Ronaldo was substituted late in the game to manage his fitness, leaving the pitch to a standing ovation as Al Nassr cruised to a 5-2 finish.

The match marked Ronaldo’s 100th appearance in the Saudi Pro League. His performance solidified his status as one of the league’s most clinical finishers with 97 league goals in just 100 Super league appearances

In a notable moment of mutual respect, head coach Jorge Jesus was seen consulting Ronaldo in the 83rd minute about a substitution. Despite being on a hat-trick, the Portuguese icon agreed to be taken off to manage his fitness following his injury return.

“Cristiano’s work ethic is unmatched,” Jesus said post-match. “He could have stayed to chase the hat-trick, but he chose what was best for the team’s long-term goals.”

With this win, Al Nassr maintains their position at the top of the table, holding a six-point lead over Al-Hilal as they march toward the league title. For Ronaldo, the countdown to 1,000 continues, with the footballing world watching every strike.