Cristiano Ronaldo, expressed his delight at securing the top goalscorer title for the year 2023, surpassing Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the rankings. Having embarked on a new journey with Al-Nassr in January 2023, Ronaldo sought to rejuvenate his career following a challenging conclusion to his second stint with Manchester United in November 2022.
The 2023 season proved to be stellar for Cristiano Ronaldo, culminating in 54 goals and 15 assists across 59 appearances for Al-Nassr and Portugal in various competitions. This impressive tally positioned him ahead of notable players like Erling Haaland (50 goals), Kylian Mbappe (52 goals), and Harry Kane from Bayern Munich (52 goals).
The 38-year-old football maestro attended the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Friday, January 19, where he shared his sentiments about clinching the top goalscorer title despite being in the twilight years of his illustrious career. Ronaldo stated, “Last year, I had a difficult journey. But I like to prove the doubters wrong. I’m proud to be the top scorer of 2023 above young lions like Haaland and Mbappe.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable performance included 44 goals and 13 assists in 50 appearances for Al-Nassr in 2023, contributing significantly to the team’s pursuit of the Saudi Pro League title. Currently, Al-Nassr stands second in the standings with 46 points, trailing Al-Hilal by seven points.
Notably, Ronaldo also played a pivotal role in Portugal’s qualification for the 2024 UEFA Euros, amassing 10 goals and two assists in nine appearances. During the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo boldly asserted that the Saudi Pro League (SPL) surpassed Ligue 1 in terms of competitiveness. He remarked, “Saudi League is more competitive than Ligue 1, I can say that after one year spent there. We are better than the French league already now.”
Ronaldo expressed his contentment with his move to Al Nassr, predicting that the Saudi Pro League would eventually become one of the top three leagues globally. Despite Ligue 1’s stature in European football, dominated primarily by PSG, Ronaldo remained confident in the SPL’s potential ascent.
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