The language of numbers indicates a great breakthrough for Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo with the Saudi team Al-Nassr in 2023 that exceeds what he achieved 5 years ago at the age of 33, which we will address with technical analysis through football experts.
Since Ronaldo, 38, moved to the Saudi Professional League in January, he has regained his best form as a striker scorer, much better than in the seasons following his departure from Real Madrid.
Ronaldo played 19 official matches with Al Nasr, scoring 16 goals at a scoring rate of 0.84 goals per game, a statistic that shows the Portuguese star's outstanding level in front of goal, because in his last five years in Europe he did not reach this figure.
And the goals of the "Don"
Ronaldo scored two goals in 3 matches in the Arab Club Championship, the last of which was the equalizer against Zamalek last Thursday, in which Al-Nasr qualified for the quarter-finals of the tournament, and 14 goals in 16 matches in the Saudi Professional League, taking into account his arrival at the beginning of this year.
Ronaldo's header equalizes the score for Al-Nasr#Al-Nasr⚽_Zamalek#King_Salman_Cup_for_clubs | #SSC pic.twitter.com/ZZU62t1KwG
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 3, 2023
Ronaldo fell with United
Ronaldo's worst spell in recent years has been with Manchester United, averaging just 0.5 goals per game.
From returning to United in August 2021 until his departure in November 2022, the Portuguese star has scored 27 goals in 57 official appearances.
3 successful seasons with Juventus
Despite Ronaldo's relative success in his experience with Juventus, which he moved to from Real Madrid in 2018, he has not reached his current scoring rate with Al Nasr, as he scored in his first season in Serie A 28 goals in 43 games with a scoring rate of 0.65 goals per game.
The Dons' average increased the following season, scoring 37 goals in 46 games with a scoring average of 0.8.
He continued his progress in the third season with Juventus, scoring 36 goals in 44 games at a scoring rate of 0.82 per game.
One of the best ever Cristiano ronaldo video pic.twitter.com/FtNb06dkJA https://t.co/CaYknHcXuV
— ~ (@mercyl4s) July 29, 2023
The best season with Real Madrid
Ronaldo's goalscoring average in recent years is only surpassed his last year with Real Madrid in 2017-2018, in which he scored 44 goals in 44 games, an impressive rate (one goal per game).
His last match with the royal was in the Champions League final, in which Real won the tournament after beating Liverpool 3-2.
⚪️ Cristiano Ronaldo madness #OTD in 2018 🤯 @Cristiano | @realmadriden | #UCL pic.twitter.com/GZN1PcIFiv
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 3, 2021
Ronaldo: I rejuvenated
Ronaldo – crowned the best player in the world 5 times – explained the restoration of his good rates in scoring in the Saudi league, saying – in statements last month – "I reached victory only 6 months ago, I was not wrong in my decision, I was aware that this will happen, and everything will develop, I tried it when I went to Italy, I was finished before I arrived also and then rejuvenated."
Ronaldo's contract with Al Nasr runs until 2025.
😲 A wonderful scissor from the "Don" Cristiano Ronaldo almost gave Al Nasr the goal of progress #Paris_Saint_Germain_Victory | #رونالدو #PSGJapanTour2023 | #AlNassr | #CR7𓃵 | #Ronaldo𓃵 pic.twitter.com/OjRMgnWdxu
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 25, 2023
The reasons for Ronaldo's brilliance with Al-Nasr
The question may come to mind about the secret of Ronaldo's superiority this year with Al Nasr, whether it is because of his "rejuvenation" as he said about himself, or because the level of rivals with his new team is lower than the European leagues in which he played during the past 5 years?
The coach and lecturer of the Asian Football Confederation and a comprehensive medal for Al Jazeera Net says that the main reason is the defensive ferocity and the high level of fitness in the European leagues than its Arab counterpart, which makes it difficult for the striker to find the space and time in which he can score goals, especially with a star the size of Ronaldo, who is always imposed on him close control collectively after football has become dependent on the collective defensive system.
Shamil – a former striker at the Iraqi Al-Talaba Club – adds that Ronaldo's role now on the field is different from recent years, after he was 33 years old a skilled player characterized by individual skills that enable him to create and score goals, he became a striker called in football "box player", meaning his task is to score only based on his experience and his constant presence near the opponents' goal and his interest in his fitness that enables him to position well, so he now scores a lot of touch One.
The coach and football analyst Tariq Makor explains to Al Jazeera Net that the brilliance of Ronaldo this world is due to two basic reasons: The first is that despite the strength of the Saudi league, which is one of the strongest Arab and Asian leagues, it does not surpass the clear strength of European leagues and competitions, which are the best in the world undisputed.
Makur adds – who believes that Ronaldo is a football phenomenon – that the level of fitness is an indicator of the level of the Portuguese star, and this season he reached high levels of fitness, which was reflected in his performance on the field and the percentage of his goals, and on the contrary was last year suffering with Manchester United and missed many games because he was at his lowest physical levels.
Ronaldo is the all-time top individual goalscorer pic.twitter.com/zvaddOSsNs
— Yassin LFC (@lfc00966) August 4, 2023