"The coach broke his promise!" Ronaldo, who walked out of the national team, vents frustration with a goal... Returns to Saudi Arabia and scores his 980th career goal, cementing his status as "the all-time top scorer in football history"

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Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al Nassr), who sparked controversy by leaving the Portuguese national team without permission, fired up his scoring machine upon returning to his club, recording his 980th career goal.

On the 10th (Korean time), at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo scored the opening and winning goal in the 23rd minute of the first half against Al Duhail in the eighth round of the 2026-2027 Saudi Pro League. After teammate Kingsley Coman's long-range shot was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper and deflected away, Ronaldo quickly rushed to the front of the goal and pushed it in with his right foot.

Immediately after scoring, he performed his signature "Siu" celebration, and Al Nassr fans responded by unfurling a large banner in the stands reading "The all-time top scorer in football history."

Al Nassr added goals from Samuel Costa in the 33rd minute of the first half and Coman in the 32nd minute of the second half to secure a 3-0 victory.

With this, Ronaldo is now just 20 goals away from the unprecedented milestone of "1,000 goals." His current total of 980 goals is the sum of 146 international A-match goals and 834 professional league goals. His goal tally by professional club is five for Sporting CP, 145 for Manchester United, 450 for Real Madrid, 101 for Juventus, and 133 for his current club, Al Nassr.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo faces the possibility of disciplinary action from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) due to his unauthorized departure from the Lee Beon (CEO) team. According to the UK's "The Sun," Ronaldo received a temporary suspension from the FPF immediately after leaving camp. Under the regulations, the possible suspension period ranges from a minimum of one month to a maximum of six months. If a suspension of more than one month is confirmed, Ronaldo will not be able to participate in the two-match UEFA Nations League series against Denmark and Wales scheduled for November.

The incident stemmed from a conflict over playing time with coach Jorge Jeju during last month's match against Norway. Ronaldo left the national team camp midway, claiming that the coach "broke his promise of 30 minutes of playing time."

However, US-based ESPN predicted that the likelihood of a heavy sanction is extremely low, considering the player's stature and public apology. Ronaldo also firmly dismissed reports suggesting he would retire from the senior national team, stating, "Regardless of what punishment is handed down, I am ready to play for my country again once it is over."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original