On Saturday, October 20, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Al Nassr’s impressive 5-1 victory over Al Riyadh, moving him closer to the rare milestone of 1,000 career goals—a record no player has ever achieved. Similarly, Lionel Messi also scored two goals in Inter Miami’s 3-2 win over D.C. United, keeping the competition fierce.
The goal for 1,000 is now within reach, with either player on the verge of making history. Currently, Ronaldo seems likely to be the first to hit this target.
As of now, Ronaldo has scored 29 goals this year for Al Nassr and Portugal. In contrast, Messi has netted 32 goals for Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. This shows that, at ages 40 and 38, both players remain highly competitive.
Ronaldo’s recent goals in Saudi Arabia have put him slightly ahead in this historic chase. Meanwhile, Messi continues to apply pressure, having recently scored twice for Inter Miami, keeping their rivalry exciting.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a brace for Inter Miami vs DC United. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Ronaldo and Messi closing in on 1,000 career goals
Cristiano Ronaldo has had a remarkable career, leaving his mark with trophies and, notably, goals. The Portuguese player has scored 945 career goals, just 55 away from the historic 1,000-goal mark—an achievement yet to be realized by any player.
Lionel Messi has achieved great success at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and with the Argentina national team. He has scored 882 goals across these teams and is now just 12 goals shy of reaching 900 career goals.
On Saturday, both players showcased their skills. Ronaldo scored two goals for Al Nassr, while Messi scored two goals and provided an assist in Inter Miami’s victory, keeping the race to their milestones exciting.