He’s 40. Well, almost. By the time the February sun hits Riyadh, Cristiano Ronaldo will officially hit that four-decade milestone. Most players are doing punditry or playing beach soccer by then. Not him. If you look at the ronaldo statistics this season, you’ll see a guy who is basically refusing to let the light fade.
Honestly, it’s kinda ridiculous. We’re midway through the 2025/2026 campaign, and the man is still a goal-per-game threat. He isn't just "hanging around" the box anymore; he’s anchoring an Al Nassr side that is desperately trying to hunt down Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.
Breaking Down the 2025/2026 League Numbers
Let’s get into the weeds of the Saudi Pro League stats. As of mid-January 2026, Ronaldo has suited up for 14 league matches. He hasn't missed a single start. Total goals? 15. That puts him right at the top of the scoring charts, even as Al Nassr has hit a bit of a rocky patch lately.
He’s averaging about 89 minutes per goal in the league. Basically, if he's on the pitch, you can bet on a celebration. But it’s not just the quantity; it’s the variety. People love to meme about "Penaldo," but the data tells a different story.
Out of those 15 league goals, 4 came from the penalty spot. That means 11 were from open play or set pieces. He’s still finding the net with his left foot, his head, and that trademark right boot. His Expected Goals (xG) sits at 14.31, which means he’s actually overperforming his service. He's making difficult chances look routine.
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Performance Across All Competitions
If we zoom out to include the AFC Champions League Elite and the domestic cups, the picture stays sharp. Across 18 appearances in all competitions for Al Nassr this season, he’s bagged 16 goals.
- Saudi Pro League: 14 Apps, 15 Goals, 1 Assist
- AFC Champions League Elite: 4 Apps, 0 Goals (He's been more of a decoy here)
- Saudi Super Cup: 2 Apps, 1 Goal
- King's Cup: 1 App, 0 Goals
One thing that’s changed? The assists. He’s only got 3 assists across all competitions this year. It's clear Jorge Jesus—who took over the coaching reins—has him playing as a pure, distilled number nine. He isn't dropping deep to build play as much as he used to. He’s there to finish. Period.
The International Impact: Portugal and the Nations League
You’d think he’d take the international breaks to put his feet up. Nope. In the 2025/2026 international window, Ronaldo has been a focal point for Roberto Martínez’s Portugal.
In the UEFA Nations League and recent World Cup Qualifiers, he’s appeared 9 times. He scored 8 goals. Think about that for a second. At his age, scoring nearly a goal a game against European defenses is unheard of. His passing accuracy with the national team is hovering around 87%. He’s not just a statue; he’s actually keeping the play moving.
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What Most People Get Wrong About His "Slump"
Look, Al Nassr has had a tough January. They lost 3-1 to Al Hilal recently, and they’ve slipped to second in the table, trailing by seven points. People see the team losing and assume Ronaldo is cooked.
But look at the Al Hilal game on January 12. Ronaldo actually opened the scoring. He poked home a cross from Kingsley Coman in the 42nd minute. The collapse happened because their keeper, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, got a red card. Ronaldo can’t go in goal. Well, he probably thinks he can, but you get the point.
The "slump" is a team issue, not a Cristiano issue. His shot accuracy is still 35%, which is elite for a high-volume shooter taking 85 shots in 14 games. He’s still the same relentless shot-monster he was at Madrid, just with a slightly smaller engine.
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The Road to 1,000 Goals
This is the big one. Every time he scores, the counter ticks closer.
As of this week, he’s sitting on 958 career goals.
He needs 42 more to hit the big four-digit number.
With the way he’s scoring this season—41 goals in the 2025 calendar year—he’s on pace to hit 1,000 sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking the ronaldo statistics this season for fantasy purposes or just pure fandom, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the service: Ronaldo is highly dependent on Kingsley Coman and Sadio Mané. When they struggle to beat their man on the wing, Ronaldo’s xG drops significantly.
- Home vs Away: He’s been much more clinical at Al-Awwal Park. If you’re betting on him to score, check the venue first.
- The "Big Game" Factor: While his overall numbers are great, he’s struggled to find the net in the AFC Champions League this term. That’s the one area where Father Time might be catching up—the high-intensity travel and midweek games are clearly taking a toll.
He’s still fighting. He’s still scoring. And honestly, whether you love him or hate him, the numbers don't lie. 15 goals in 14 league games is a statement that he’s not ready to say goodbye just yet.
To get a true sense of his impact, you should compare his goal-per-game ratio against younger strikers like Aleksandar Mitrović in the same league. You'll find that while Mitrović might have more physical presence, Ronaldo’s movement off the ball remains the gold standard in the Saudi Pro League. Keep an eye on the next three fixtures against Al-Fateh and Al-Hazem; these are games where he typically pads his stats with multiple goals.