Cristiano Ronaldo Scores 980th Goal as Al Nassr Beats Al Diriyah 3-0, says Kooora
Ronaldo Reaches 980 Career Goals as Al Nassr Defeats Al Diriyah
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 980th career goal to lead Al Nassr to a 3-0 victory over Al Diriyah on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, according to Kooora. The victory lifted Al Nassr to 19 points, putting them second in the Saudi Pro League standings behind Al Qadsiah on goal difference, as reported by Kooora.
Al Nassr Secure Three Goals on Home Turf
Al Nassr opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Kingsley Coman fired a shot that Al Diriyah goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah blocked, leaving Ronaldo to score from close range, Kooora reported. Samou Costa added the second goal in the 35th minute with a header from a corner kick delivered by Joao Felix. Coman secured the third goal in the 77th minute after a breakaway against Abdullah. Al Diriyah entered the match in eighth place with 11 points, according to data cited by Al Khaleej.
Crowd Support Follows Portugal Controversy
Before kickoff, fans at Al Awwal Park chanted Ronaldo’s name and displayed a banner supporting him following his recent dispute with Portugal national team coach Jorge Jesus, Kooora reported. Speaking about his return to face Al Nassr for the first time since leaving the club, 40-year-old goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah played through an arm injury secured with a medical wrap, stopping multiple attempts from Coman, Felix, and Sadio Mane.
Ronaldo Extends Goalscoring Lead Over Messi
Ronaldo’s strike against Al Diriyah moved him to 980 career goals, extending his lead over Lionel Messi to 48 goals after Messi scored for Argentina against Benin to reach 932 career goals. It was outlined that Ronaldo’s total includes 450 goals for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 133 for Al Nassr, 101 for Juventus, 5 for Sporting CP, and 146 for the Portugal national team.
Upcoming Fixtures in the Saudi Pro League
Al Nassr and Al Qadsiah hold the top spots in the league table, though both could shift depending on the outcome of Saturday’s match between Al Hilal and Al الاتحاد at Kingdom Arena, Kooora noted. The match marked a meeting between Al Nassr and Al Diriyah this season following Al Nassr’s 4-1 win in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup on August 18, according to Al Khaleej.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.