Cristiano Ronaldo has dominated the Saudi Pro League statistically since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, even if the league title has continued to elude him. That could finally change on the final day of the season, with Al Nassr sitting on the verge of the championship heading into their clash against Damac Club.
But while the title race remains firmly in Al Nassr's hands, Ronaldo faces a far steeper challenge in his bid for a third straight Saudi Pro League Golden Boot.
The 41-year-old currently sits third in the scoring charts with 26 league goals this season. Ivan Toney leads the race with 31 goals for Al Ahli, while Al Qadsiah striker Julián Quiñones is second with 29.
Toney, who joined Al Ahli from Brentford, has emerged as the league's most clinical finisher this season, leading the scoring charts with 31 goals despite taking just 88 shots compared to Ronaldo's 156. The English striker had also finished second in last season's Golden Boot race with 23 goals, just two behind Ronaldo.
Quiñones, who arrived at Al Qadsiah in 2024, has flourished under Brendan Rodgers. The Mexico international has combined relentless pressing with sharp finishing, scoring 29 league goals this season after netting 20 in his debut campaign last year.
Despite the fierce competition, Ronaldo's scoring numbers since moving to Saudi Arabia remain extraordinary. He scored 14 league goals after joining midway through the 2022-23 season before breaking the Saudi Pro League single-season scoring record with 35 goals in 2023-24 to win his first Golden Boot.
He followed that with another Golden Boot-winning campaign in 2024-25 after scoring 25 league goals.
What Ronaldo Needs To Win The Golden Boot
Ronaldo's path to a Golden Boot hat-trick now borders on the improbable.
To draw level with Toney on 31 goals, Ronaldo would need to score five times against Damac Club, assuming the Al Ahli striker does not add to his tally in his remaining two games. To win the award outright, he would need six goals in the final game while also hoping Quiñones fails to close the gap.
What The Bookmakers Are Saying
Bookmakers have largely settled the Golden Boot race in Ivan Toney's favour.
According to odds from bet365, William Hill and Betfair, Toney remains the overwhelming favourite, with Ronaldo priced as a major outsider at odds ranging between 13.00 and 19.00.
The markets reflect the scale of the task ahead for Ronaldo, with bookmakers effectively treating a third consecutive Golden Boot as a long-shot scenario unless he produces a remarkable final-day performance against Damac Club.
Ronaldo is also closing in on another historic personal milestone. The Portuguese forward currently sits on 971 official career goals for club and country, leaving him 29 short of the unprecedented 1,000-goal mark.
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