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When Cristiano Ronaldo announced he was chasing 1,000 professional senior goals (before even reaching 900), he dismissed suggestions that the likes of Pelé and Romário had already accomplished the milestone back in football's black-and-white era.
"Every goal I've scored has video evidence," he emphasized. Yet, even today, controversy still surrounds the counting of Ronaldo's strikes.
A perfect hat trick for Al Nassr against mid-table Al Kholood brought Ronaldo's tally, in most people's estimation, to 985 career goals. However, debate has surfaced over goal number 982.
Al Nassr's captain spun away in celebration after a glancing header against Al Faisaly at the end of October. Yet even the term "glancing" might be generous. A closer look at the footage makes it difficult to determine how much of a touch—if any—Ronaldo actually got on João Félix's looping cross. While the Saudi Pro League was quick to credit Ronaldo's achievement, respected data provider Opta attributed the goal to Al Faisaly's Andrei Girotto as an own goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo goal number 982 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/4yV8r6iJMY
According to the stats provider relied upon by nearly every major league and broadcaster worldwide, Ronaldo has scored just seven league goals this season, rather than the eight Al Nassr have credited him with. That slim difference could become a fiercely debated issue when Ronaldo eventually closes in on his inevitable milestone of 1,000 goals.
This would not be the first time his goal tally has sparked controversy.
The Real Madrid Goal Cristiano Ronaldo Didn't Score
Back in October 2015, Real Madrid celebrated Ronaldo as the undisputed all-time leading scorer in the club's history with 324 goals. A ceremony was held in the Bernabéu's "box of honor," and the prolific forward was presented with a special silver boot trophy. The only problem was that everyone else believed he had merely equaled Raúl González's record of 323.
The discrepancy had originated more than five years earlier, when Ronaldo hammered a free kick off Pepé's back against Real Sociedad. The Real Madrid squad gathered around their sulking No. 7, who claimed the goal that Opta and virtually everyone else awarded to Pepe. To his credit, even the center-back had no interest in taking it.
"Regardless of what the official match report says, the goal belongs to Cristiano," Pepe insisted, presumably with Ronaldo looming nearby. "The ball struck me before going in, but the credit should go to the player who struck the free kick.
"When it comes to that goal, I have absolutely no issue giving it to him. The ball went in and he deserves full credit for it."
Despite Real Madrid's best efforts, Ronaldo ultimately left the Spanish capital with 450 goals rather than 451. Al Nassr appear to be employing a similar approach, but may face the same level of scrutiny.