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Cristiano Ronaldo Overtakes Lionel Messi in Terms of Non-Penalty Career Goals As Al Nassr Win on Return to Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo overtook Lionel Messi in terms of non-penalty career goals by scoring in Al Nassr's 2-1 win over Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

Robert Summerscales

Cristiano Ronaldo Overtakes Lionel Messi in Terms of Non-Penalty Career Goals As Al Nassr Win on Return to Saudi Pro League
Cristiano Ronaldo Overtakes Lionel Messi in Terms of Non-Penalty Career Goals As Al Nassr Win on Return to Saudi Pro League /

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 875th goal of his career to help Al Nassr beat Al Fateh 2-1 on Saturday.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 17th minute thanks to a powerful first-time finish with his left foot from 10 yards.

Al Fateh equalized before half-time thanks to a goal from Salem Al-Najdi.

But Otavio headed home the winner for Al Nassr in the 72nd minute following a Ronaldo pre-assist.

This was Al Nassr's first game in the Saudi Pro League since December.

Saturday's victory took Ronaldo and Co to within four points of unbeaten league leaders Al-Hilal, who will host Al-Raed on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo's goal against Al Fateh saw the 39-year-old edge ahead of his great rival, 36-year-old Lionel Messi, in terms of non-penalty goals.

Messi is more than 50 behind Ronaldo when it comes to total career goals (821 vs. 875).

But until Saturday the two players had been level on 713 in terms of non-penalty goals. Ronaldo now has 714, including 168 with his left foot.

Cristiano Ronaldo pictured celebrating a goal during Al Nassr's 5-2 win over Al-Ittihad in December 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 714 non-penalty goals during his senior career :: IMAGO/Sports Press Photo/Alexandre Neto

Messi has scored 108 goals from spot-kicks during his career, not including penalty shootouts, while Ronaldo has converted 161 PKs.

Saturday's game was the 1,206th of Ronaldo's senior career and his 1,001st at club level.

Messi is expected to make his 1,048th senior career appearance on Wednesday when the 2024 Major League Soccer season begins with a game between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi: Career stats

Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi

Matches played:

1,206

1,047

Goals scored:

875

821

Club goals:

747

715

International goals:

128

106

Penalty goals:

161

108

Non-penalty goals:

714

713

Published
Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.