Cristiano Ronaldo shifted the focus from personal achievements to collective success following Al Nassr’s significant 3-1 victory over rivals Al Hilal in the Riyadh Derby on Friday, April 4th. Despite scoring twice to move closer to a historic goal milestone, Ronaldo emphasized the importance of the team win in the context of the Saudi Pro League title race.
The 40-year-old superstar scored with a clinical left-footed strike and a composed late penalty, taking his tally to 21 goals in the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League season and consolidating his lead in the Golden Boot race. The goals, his first in the RSL against Al Hilal, brought his remarkable career total to 931.
When asked about the possibility of reaching 1,000 career goals, Ronaldo downplayed the pursuit of the landmark. “Guys, let’s enjoy the moment, the present,” he said post-match. “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?”
He added: “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.”
The victory, Al Nassr’s first league win over their city rivals in seven attempts, keeps their slim title hopes alive.2 They remain third in the table on 54 points, but closed the gap to second-placed Al Hilal (57 points) to just three points, and sit seven points behind leaders Al Ittihad (61 points) with nine games remaining.
Ronaldo acknowledged the quality of Al Hilal, calling them a “fantastic team,” and praised his own team’s performance under pressure away from home. Looking ahead, he stressed the need for continued belief and focus, with crucial league fixtures and an AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final against Al Ahli remaining.
“We have to appreciate [the win] and we have to continue… Everything is possible. We have to continue and believe,” Ronaldo said. “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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