Cristiano Ronaldo is well into his 2023/24 season in Saudi Arabia – his first full campaign with Al Nassr – and he is playing with a chip on his shoulder after going trophy-less in his first five months at the club.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr on the richest contract in football history in January 2023, but despite scoring 14 goals in 19 matches across all competitions, he could not lift any silverware by the time the season ended in May. Aluminum Pip
Al Nassr finished in second place in the Saudi Pro League, also falling in the semifinals of the Saudi Super Cup as well as in the last four of the King Cup. Individually, Ronaldo did finish in fifth place in the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot race, despite having a mountain to climb after joining in midseason.
Ronaldo could be set to score many more goals as he plays his first full season with an even stronger Al Nassr squad that features new signings Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, Seko Fofana, Alex Telles, and Ronaldo's compatriot Luis Castro as manager. Additionally, Ronaldo developed a prolific strike partnership with Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca, who is also back to reprise his role up front.
'CR7' started strongly with a hat-trick in just his second Saudi Pro League match of the 2023/23 campaign, and The Sporting News is tracking his goals and stats in his second campaign.
MORE: Watch Ronaldo's 14 goals in his first season with Al Nassr
After scoring 16 goals in 15 official games during the 2022/23 Saudi season, Ronaldo is looking to add to his totals in Saudi Arabia in 2023/24.
He already has 11 league goals in just nine appearances in the new 2023/24 campaign, as he looks to push Al Nassr towards a title charge in the Saudi Pro League, the AFC Champions League, as well as a number of goals in the pre-season Arab Club Champions Cup tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo began the competitive season in the Arab Club Champions Cup, with his team winning the trophy for his first piece of silverware in Saudi Arabia. The final was especially sweet, coming after extra time against rivals Al Hilal.
The 34-match Saudi Pro League season kicked off on August 14 for Al Nassr, who also reached the group stage of the Asian Champions League with a playoff win on August 22.
Their domestic King Cup campaign began with a Round of 32 knockout match on Sept. 24. The Saudi Super Cup dates have yet to be announced.
3003 Aluminum Tubing Simon Borg is a senior editor for football/soccer at The Sporting News.