Cristiano Ronaldo is not slowing down. Even at the age of 39, the Portuguese phenom continues to form. Although it seemed destined for a while, with the Saudi Pro League 2023-24 season finally over, Ronaldo is the top scorer officially.
Ronaldo scored a whopping 35 goals after making 31 appearances in the Saudi top-flight football league. In doing so, he also found his name on another record. Previously Abderrazak Hamdallah was the holder of the highest-ever goal scorer in a single Saudi League season. The Moroccan had netted a total of 34 goals in the 2018-19 season.
The Portuguese international was two goals shy of breaking this feat in the final league game against Al Ittihad, a side Hamdallah is currently contracted to. Did he manage to break the 34-goal barrier? Yes. Ronaldo managed to score a brace of goals by the 70-minute mark and finally took over the Saudi single-season record.
With the 2023-24 Saudi league all wrapped up, Ronaldo earned the Golden Boot. This led to another record. Do you know how many players have been the top scorer in four different countries? Only One.
Cristiano Ronaldo‘s SPL Golden Boot allowed him to establish a new record. He becomes the first ever footballer to finish as top scorer in four different first-tier leagues of four different countries.
It all started back in the 2007-08 season, during his Manchester United days. The player by the end of the season won his first-ever Golden Boot scoring 31 goals in 34 league appearances. After leaving England to join Spain’s Real Madrid, the winger turned goalscorer was at it once again, scoring 40 goals in the 2011-12 LaLiga season.
Ronaldo then added two more Golden Boot awards during his time in Madrid, 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. Then another storied chapter of his career came in Italy. A 29-goal tally in the 2020-21 Serie A season was enough to win the top scorer accolade with Juventus.
The Portuguese superstar then moved to Saudi Arabia in January 2023 after parting ways with United after a rather distasteful second stint. In his first full season, he won the Golden Boot in the Saudi Pro League which eventually resulted in him winning the top scorer award in four different countries.
In the summer, we will see more of the 39-year-old, as he is about to enter the Euro 2024 in mid-June with his nation, the Portugal national football team.
