Cristiano Ronaldo Scores 957th Career Goal in Unusual Saudi Pro League Draw

Cristiano Ronaldo added yet another extraordinary entry to football folklore on December 30, 2025, scoring his 957th career goal in a manner few would have scripted. The Portuguese legend’s strike, which came via an accidental deflection off his own back, helped Al-Nassr briefly take the lead before they were held to a dramatic 2–2 draw by Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.

The result ended Al-Nassr’s commanding 10-match winning streak and tightened the title race, while once again underlining Ronaldo’s uncanny ability to remain central to decisive moments, even when fortune intervenes rather than finesse.

Early VAR Drama Sets the Tone

The contest at Al-Ettifaq’s home ground opened with controversy inside the first five minutes. Al-Nassr left-back Saad Fahad was initially shown a straight red card for a challenge on Madallah Alolayan. However, following a VAR review, the referee downgraded the punishment to a yellow, allowing the visitors to continue with eleven men.

Despite the reprieve, the early incident unsettled Al-Nassr’s defensive structure. While they dominated possession and territory, Al-Ettifaq remained compact and patient, waiting for moments to exploit space on the counter.

Wijnaldum Strikes Against the Run of Play

Al-Ettifaq’s breakthrough arrived around the 20-minute mark through their captain and most experienced campaigner. Former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum surged forward on a solo run during a swift counter-attack and unleashed a long-range effort that beat the Al-Nassr goalkeeper.

The goal exposed a lapse in concentration from defender Iñigo Martínez, whose positioning failed to halt Wijnaldum’s advance. It was a classic example of efficiency triumphing over dominance, as Al-Ettifaq scored with their first real opportunity.

Ronaldo, closely marshalled throughout the first half, remained industrious but was restricted to limited clear chances. Notably, he failed to register a single shot on target before the interval, a rare statistical footnote in his career.

Second-Half Response and Felix’s Equaliser

Al-Nassr emerged after the break with renewed urgency. The equaliser arrived almost instantly, just one minute into the second half. João Félix collected a pass from Angelo Gomes on the edge of the area and guided a precise, low shot beyond the goalkeeper to restore parity.

The goal shifted momentum firmly in Al-Nassr’s favour. Their tempo increased, passing became sharper, and Al-Ettifaq were forced deeper into their own half as sustained pressure mounted.

Ronaldo’s Bizarre Back-Deflected 957th Goal

The defining moment of the match arrived in the 67th minute and will undoubtedly feature in Ronaldo highlight reels for years to come. Félix fired a powerful shot from inside the penalty area, and the ball struck Ronaldo squarely on the back before looping over goalkeeper Marek Rodák and into the net.

For a split second, confusion reigned. Then Ronaldo turned, raised his arm, and celebrated with his trademark “Siu” gesture, acknowledging the sheer absurdity of the moment. The goal, officially credited to him, marked his 13th Saudi Pro League goal of the season and his 41st strike across club and country in 2025.

At 40 years of age, Ronaldo now sits just 43 goals short of the mythical 1,000-career-goal milestone, a figure once considered unattainable in modern football.

Al-Ettifaq Fight Back as Wijnaldum Delivers Again

Al-Nassr’s joy was short-lived. Al-Ettifaq refused to capitulate and found an equaliser late in the contest. Once again, Wijnaldum was at the heart of it, capitalising on another defensive error involving Martínez before finishing clinically to complete his brace.

The former Netherlands international delivered a captain’s performance, combining tactical discipline with decisive attacking contributions. His two goals earned Al-Ettifaq a valuable point and earned widespread praise as one of the standout individual displays of the Saudi Pro League season.

Records Extended and One Quietly Broken

Beyond the scoreline, the match carried deeper statistical significance for Ronaldo. While the Cristiano Ronaldo 957th goal extended his remarkable scoring longevity and confirmed a third consecutive year with over 40 goals, it also ended a lesser-known but extraordinary run.

For the first time since 2009, Ronaldo finished a calendar year without registering a single hat-trick. His 14-year streak of scoring at least one hat-trick annually, spanning from 2010 to 2024, quietly came to an end. His last treble was recorded in May 2024 against Al Wehda, while a potential third goal in a recent match against Al Akhdoud was ruled out by VAR.

Title Race Tightens as Pressure Mounts

The draw leaves Al-Nassr’s position at the top of the Saudi Pro League under threat. Al Taawoun now trail by just three points, setting up a potentially decisive clash in January. With margins narrowing, defensive lapses such as those exposed against Al-Ettifaq may prove costly in the weeks ahead.

For Ronaldo, however, the focus remains singular. Each appearance edges him closer to history, and moments like this — accidental, chaotic, yet decisive — reinforce why his presence continues to command global attention.

As clips of the back-deflected goal flooded social media, reactions ranged from disbelief to amusement. Yet the verdict was unanimous. Even when football defies logic, Cristiano Ronaldo finds a way to leave his mark.