More goals after 30: Cristiano Ronaldo’s new record

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy age and expectations, with his latest milestone achieved during Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League.

The Portuguese icon converted a penalty in the 26th minute to score his 927th career goal, sealing Al-Nassr’s place in the tournament quarterfinals.

What makes this goal truly remarkable is its significance in Ronaldo’s extraordinary journey. At 40 years old, he has now scored more goals after turning 30 than he did before.

Of his 927 strikes, 463 came before his 30th birthday on February 5, 2015, while an incredible 464 have come since - a feat few could have imagined in a sport where players traditionally peak in their late 20s.

Ronaldo’s latest goal came after teammate Sadio Mané was fouled in the box, setting up the forward to calmly slot the penalty down the middle. The strike marked his seventh goal of the tournament.

The game also saw Jhon Durán, who signed from Aston Villa in January, contribute two goals, with Esteghlal reduced to 10 men just before halftime following Mehran Ahmadi’s red card.

Ronaldo’s post-30 career has been nothing short of extraordinary. Since hitting the milestone age, he has won three Champions League titles, three league titles, two Ballon d’Or awards, and both of his FIFA Best Player trophies. He also led Portugal to their first major international triumph at Euro 2016 at age 31.

With 73 goals left to reach the mythical 1,000-goal mark, the question isn’t whether Ronaldo can achieve it - but how much further he can push the boundaries of longevity in football.

Elsewhere, Al Sadd, two-time winners of the AFC Champions League, secured their spot in the quarterfinals with an impressive 4-2 aggregate win over UAE champions Al Wasl.

After a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg in Dubai, Al Wasl made a bright start in the return fixture, with Fabio Lima giving the visitors an early lead. However, their advantage was short-lived as Al Sadd responded with a devastating 10-minute spell of attacking brilliance.

Mostafa Meshaal started the comeback just before the half-hour mark, levelling the score with a composed finish. Moments later, Youcef Atal added a second to turn the game on its head, and reigning Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif capped off the flurry with a clinical strike.