501 and counting: Ronaldo reaches another goalscoring landmark

Cristiano Ronaldo has smashed yet another jaw-dropping milestone after firing a brilliant double to inspire Al Nassr to a commanding 4-0 victory over Al Hazem in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday night.

The 41-year-old icon netted his 500th and 501st goals since turning 30 -- an astonishing feat that underlines his legendary longevity at the top level.

No player in football history has hit that mark after 30. Remarkably, Ronaldo has now scored more goals post-30 (501) than he managed before reaching the milestone birthday (463), rewriting what fans thought was possible in the modern game.

And it’s not just about goals.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has also chipped in with 105 assists during that period, taking his total goal contributions to a staggering 606 in just 592 appearances since entering his fourth decade.

Where the goals came from

All 501 goals after 30 have been spread across spells with Europe’s elite and now the Middle East:

162 for Real Madrid CF

101 for Juventus FC

27 during his return to Manchester United FC

119 for Al Nassr

91 for the Portugal national football team

Saturday’s opener arrived in the 13th minute when Ronaldo rifled an arrowed strike into the far corner. Though initially flagged offside, VAR intervened to confirm the goal — his 963rd career strike.

He then completed the rout late on, calmly finishing to seal the 4-0 triumph and send Al Nassr back to the summit of the table with 55 points from 22 matches.

City rivals Al Hilal SFC slipped to second after being held to a 1-1 draw by Al Ittihad Club, handing Ronaldo’s side a crucial one-point advantage.

The road to 1,000

Ronaldo’s career tally now stands at an eye-watering 964 goals — leaving him just 36 shy of the magical 1,000 mark he has relentlessly pursued.

Age, it seems, is nothing but a number.

Despite entering his fifth decade, the former Real Madrid talisman continues to defy time, proving his hunger for records burns as fiercely as ever.

There is even more spice in the Golden Boot race. Ivan Toney of Al Ahli Saudi FC currently leads the scoring charts with 23 goals — three ahead of Ronaldo -- setting up a thrilling battle in the weeks ahead.