Cristiano Ronaldo continues to rewrite history, setting an unparalleled goal record that places him in a category of his own. Even as he approaches the twilight of his career, Ronaldo is proving that his prime years weren’t in his 20s, but rather in his 30s and beyond.
For years, Cristiano Ronaldo has defied the limits of soccer longevity, but his latest achievement is something that even his biggest admirers might not have anticipated. The 40-year-old superstar continues to rewrite history, setting an unparalleled goal record that places him in a category of his own.
Even as he approaches the twilight of his career, Ronaldo is proving that his prime years weren’t in his 20s, but rather in his 30s and beyond. His 927th career goal, scored in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League, has now set him apart in soccer history. The magnitude of this record? It’s a statistic that few players—if any—have ever come close to.
It was a moment like so many others in Cristiano Ronaldo’s career. A penalty in the 26th minute, calmly slotted home with his signature composure, securing a comfortable lead for Al-Nassr in their bid for continental success. But this goal was far more than just another addition to his tally. With it, Ronaldo achieved something no other player has ever done—scoring more goals after turning 30 than he did before.
Before his 30th birthday on February 5, 2015, Ronaldo had already racked up an astonishing 463 goals across spells with Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, and Real Madrid. At the time, it seemed unimaginable that he could replicate such numbers in the second half of his career.
And yet, he has done exactly that—and more. His latest goal means that the Portuguese has now scored 464 times since turning 30, surpassing his youthful exploits and rewriting expectations of longevity in soccer.
Record that redefines longevity in soccer
The significance of this record is staggering. Most players peak in their late 20s, with their goal output typically declining as they move into their 30s. But for Ronaldo, his post-30 career has been even more successful than his early years.
Since then, he has won three UEFA Champions League titles, three league titles (including Serie A with Juventus), two Ballon d’Or awards, two FIFA Best Player trophies, and Euro 2016 with Portugal, which was his country’s first major international title.
At 40, Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, he remains one of the top goalscorers in the world, and his ambitions aren’t stopping at 927 goals. With 73 more needed to reach the mythical 1,000-goal mark, the question now isn’t if he can reach it, but when.
