Cristiano Ronaldo soured Marcelo Gallardo on Tuesday and, in the process, came very close to being the top scorer of 2023. The Portuguese converted from the penalty spot the temporary equaliser for Al Nassr, who had started losing the derby against Al Ittihad, but was able to turn it around before the break, for the 18th round of the Saudi Arabian League.
The duel, sold as the clash of the two titans of the growing Arab league, allowed Gallardo and Ronaldo to meet again, because they had met at the beginning of the year in a friendly that faced a team made up of players from Al Hilal and Al Nassr, led by the former River coach and which had CR7 on the field. against Paris Saint Germain, still with Lionel Messi.
🔥 Cristiano Ronaldo's goal! CR7 scores his 52nd goal from the penalty spot! in 2023, equalling Kane and Mbappé as the top scorers in the año.pic.twitter.com/fvsRWzvtRR
— Samuel Vargas (@SVargasOK) December 26, 2023
This Tuesday, as a visitor, the team that has the Portuguese star as its main figure - in February he will turn 39 years old - and captain is managing to close the gap on the powerful Al Hilal, the leader, who leads them by ten points with a game in hand before this game.
In addition, on a personal level, Cristiano Ronaldo has already achieved his goal of being at the top of the 2023 top scorers table. His finish down the middle from 19 yards out 52 minutes into the first half was his <>nd celebration, which allowed him to catch England's Harry Kane and France's Kylian Mbappe, who are out of the remaining week of the calendar year. Even the Portuguese still has one game left, on Saturday against Al Taawon, also in the Saudi league.
Also in contention is Erling Haaland, with 50. Manchester City have two Premier League games left, against Everton (27/12) and Sheffield United (30/12), although the Norwegian is a doubt due to the same injury that left him out of the last five games, including the Club World Cup won by the English team.
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