Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of the historic 1,000-goal milestone has been overshadowed by a dispute over whether his latest goal for Al Nassr should count as his own or be recorded as an own goal by an opposing defender.
The Saudi Pro League has officially credited the Portuguese superstar with the goal, which came during Al Nassr’s 3-1 victory over Al Faisaly on Friday. However, four major football statistics platforms—Opta, SofaScore, FotMob and Flashscore—have reportedly classified the incident as an own goal by Al Faisaly defender Andrei Girotto.
The conflicting records have created uncertainty over Ronaldo’s career goal tally, with the league listing the 41-year-old forward on 982 goals while statistics based on Opta’s assessment put his total at 981.
How the Controversial Goal Happened
The incident occurred in the 49th minute when João Félix delivered a free-kick into Al Faisaly’s penalty area. Ronaldo jumped in an attempt to reach the ball, which subsequently struck Girotto before crossing the goal line.
Ronaldo immediately celebrated, sprinting towards the corner to perform his trademark “Siu” celebration. There appeared to be little doubt in the forward’s mind that he had scored.
However, replays from different camera angles have raised questions about whether Ronaldo actually made contact with the ball before it hit Girotto. The available footage has not conclusively established whether the Portuguese forward touched the ball or whether the defender’s intervention alone sent it into the net.
That uncertainty lies at the heart of the dispute.
Saudi Pro League and Statistics Platforms Disagree
While the Saudi Pro League has maintained that the goal belongs to Ronaldo, several leading football data providers have reached a different conclusion.
Opta, SofaScore, FotMob and Flashscore have reportedly recorded the goal as an own goal by Girotto. According to an ESPN report, Opta’s classification leaves Ronaldo with 981 career goals rather than 982.
The Saudi Pro League, however, has retained Ronaldo’s name in its official match records. Its match highlights also referred to the incident as the forward’s 982nd career goal in Al Nassr’s victory.
Saudi journalist Ali Al-Anzi has additionally claimed that the referee’s official match report credited the goal to Ronaldo.
The differing records highlight how a single disputed touch can affect individual statistics, particularly when a player is approaching a major career milestone.
Why the Decision Matters
In football, determining whether a goal belongs to an attacking player or should be classified as an own goal generally depends on the trajectory of the original attempt and the nature of the defender’s intervention.
If an attacking player directs a shot towards goal and it deflects off a defender into the net, the goal will generally remain credited to the attacker. However, if the original attempt is heading wide and a defender’s touch redirects it into the goal, it may be recorded as an own goal.
In Ronaldo’s case, the available footage has not clearly resolved whether he touched the ball before Girotto or established the ball’s original trajectory with enough certainty to settle the debate.
As a result, the Saudi Pro League’s official record and the classifications used by the four statistics platforms remain at odds.
Another Goal Ruled Out by VAR
The controversy was not the only talking point involving Ronaldo during the match.
Just three minutes after the disputed goal, the forward appeared to score again in the 52nd minute. However, the goal was disallowed following a review by the video assistant referee (VAR), which determined that he was offside.
Had that goal stood, it would have further increased his tally under the league’s scoring record.
How Close Is Ronaldo to 1,000 Career Goals?
The disagreement has direct implications for Ronaldo’s pursuit of 1,000 career goals, a milestone that would mark a remarkable achievement in professional football.
Under the Saudi Pro League’s official count of 982 goals, Ronaldo needs another 18 to reach the landmark. Under Opta’s tally of 981, he requires 19 more.
For now, the Saudi Pro League continues to recognise the disputed strike as Ronaldo’s 982nd career goal, while the alternative statistical records classify it as Girotto’s own goal.
Until the discrepancy is resolved or the relevant records are revised, Ronaldo’s exact career tally remains a matter of disagreement among the different sources.
Regardless of the final classification, the incident has once again drawn attention to the scrutiny surrounding every goal as Ronaldo moves closer to one of football’s most anticipated individual milestones.
Reporting by Borderless for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 25 Oct 2026, 11:00.
