Ronaldo scores his 980th goal, Nations praises CR7 in surprise

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 980th career goal during Al Nassr's 3-0 win over Al Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League, netting the first goal with a tap‑in. The goal was celebrated by the Portuguese Federation, which posted a message of appreciation on X, calling the action decisive for the victory.

Conflicts with the National Team

The days leading up to it were tense between Ronaldo, coach Jorge Jesus and the Portuguese national team. The 41‑year‑old player issued a statement explaining his voluntary withdrawal from the squad during the preparation for the final Nations League fixtures, resulting in a temporary suspension.

Ronaldo returned early to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, but his comments did not affect his performances on the pitch. Despite the tension, the goalscorer kept finding the net, edging closer to the 1,000‑goal milestone.

Possible sanction

Coach Jorge Jesus had kept Ronaldo on the bench for the full 90 minutes in the 2‑1 win over Norway, despite a promise of a substitution. After a meeting with federation president Pedro Proença, Ronaldo left the training camp in Denmark and apologised to teammates and fans.

The Portuguese Football Federation is considering a possible ban of one to six months from national team matches, while Ronaldo's future with the side remains uncertain.