‘Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win
RIYADH — After leading Al Nassr to a statement 3-1 victory over Al Hilal in the Riyadh Derby, Cristiano Ronaldo was quick to shift the spotlight from personal achievements to team success, reiterating his focus on titles rather than the looming 1,000-goal milestone.
The 40-year-old superstar scored twice — a clinical left-footed strike and a composed late penalty — to reach 21 goals in the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League, consolidating his lead in the Golden Boot race and moving his career total to 931 goals. His brace also marked his first goals in the RSL against Al Hilal, helping Al Nassr earn their first league win over their capital rivals in seven encounters.
Despite the historic performance, Ronaldo preferred to relish the moment with his teammates rather than speculate on the possibility of reaching four figures in career goals.
'Guys, let's enjoy the moment, the present,' Ronaldo 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?'
'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.'
Ronaldo acknowledged the quality of Al Hilal, calling them a 'fantastic team,' and praised Al Nassr's performance under pressure away from home.
'We have to appreciate [the win] and we have to continue, because nine games are left and one more in the [AFC] Champions League. Everything is possible. We have to continue and believe.'
Ronaldo's brace keeps him four goals clear at the top of the RSL scoring charts, ahead of Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al Shabab) and Marcos Leonardo (Al Hilal), with Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) and Ivan Toney (Al Ahli) trailing closely.
Al Nassr's derby win sees them remain third in the table on 54 points, now just one point behind Al Hilal and seven off leaders Al Ittihad, injecting new life into a three-way title race as the league enters its final stretch.
With a crucial AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final in Jeddah later this month, the timing of the victory could prove pivotal for momentum.
Still, Ronaldo remains cautious.
'To be honest, I don't know because football sometimes is crazy,' he said. 'But we have to do our job, we have to carry on, believe. Because, as I said before: in football, everything is possible.'
'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.' — SG
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