Ronaldo is 15 goals from 1,000. Opta says one of the 985 is not his.
Ronaldo's hat-trick for Al Nassr took him to 985 career goals, 15 short of 1,000, but the data provider behind the tally says one of them was an own goal.
Three goals in 15 minutes
Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 66th, 72nd and 81st minutes on Thursday, and Al Nassr beat Al Kholood 5-3 1. The hat-trick took him to 985 career goals for club and country 2.
Fifteen more would make 1,000. It was his 67th hat-trick: 44 for Real Madrid, 10 for Portugal, seven for Al Nassr, three each for Manchester United and Juventus 1. João Félix, his Portugal team-mate, set up four goals, two for Ronaldo 2.
Why 985 might really be 984
Goal 982 came on 23 October against Al Faisaly, a glancing header from Félix's free kick that flicked off defender Andrei Girotto 3.
The Saudi Pro League credited Ronaldo with it. Opta, the data company that supplies ESPN's statistics, recorded an own goal 3.
In England a panel decides who a goal belongs to, under a fixed rule. A shot already heading in keeps its scorer through a light touch. A shot heading wide that a defender turns in becomes an own goal 3.
Andy Davies, a former Premier League referee, reviewed the clip for ESPN. Ronaldo's touch, Davies wrote, was negligible, and awarding him the goal "is stretching this process to the extreme" 3.
On Opta's count he stands on 984, 16 short.
Nobody has done it officially
No player has reached 1,000 senior goals in competitive matches. Pelé and Romário claimed the number after counting friendlies 4.
Ronaldo's 985 have come in 1,343 senior games: 0.73 a game 4. He is 49 clear of Lionel Messi, on 936 4. Of the 985, 146 came for Portugal in 234 caps, both men's records 5.
Nine goals in ten weeks
Since 21 August he has scored nine times. The run started with a goal off the bench against Al Riyadh, his first match back after the World Cup 4.
At that rate, the last 15 would arrive in the new year. He has a year left on his Al Nassr contract, and in August he said this is probably his last season 6.
Portugal play twice this month
Portugal play Denmark in the Nations League on Saturday 14 November, 19:45 local time, 2:45pm ET, 11:45am PT 7. Wales v Portugal follows on Tuesday 17 November, 19:45 local, 2:45pm ET, 11:45am PT 7.
The 30-day ban Portugal's federation gave him has run out. It began on 1 October and, BBC Sport reported, will cost him no Portugal matches 5.
Quote of the Day
"This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy."
Ronaldo, to Vogue, August 2026 6
References
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