Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his prolific scoring prowess by notching his 50th goal of the calendar year during Al Nassr's commanding 5-2 victory over Al Shabab, securing a spot in the Saudi King Cup semifinals.

In the 74th minute, Ronaldo unleashed a powerful strike to secure his team's fourth goal, underscoring his consistent goal-scoring form since debuting in Saudi Arabia in January. Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo expressed his delight at the milestone, thanking teammates, fans, and family for their unwavering support and teasing the possibility of adding more goals before the year concludes.

The match witnessed Al Shabab squander an early opportunity to take the lead when Yannick Carrasco's penalty attempt soared over the bar after a slip in Riyadh. Seko Fofana later provided the visitors with the lead, but Carlos Júnior responded with a robust header from a corner, leveling the score.

Al Nassr seized control as Sadio Mané and Abdulrahman Ghareeb found the net before halftime. Ronaldo's second-half goal extended the lead to 4-1, with Al Shabab managing a late consolation goal from Hattan Bahebri. The result remained secure as Mohammed Maran added a final goal in stoppage time.

ESPN notes that Ronaldo's last 50-goal calendar year performance was in 2017 while playing for Real Madrid. The 38-year-old forward, who recently marked his 1,200th professional game, leads the Saudi Pro League with 16 goals this season.

In a notable announcement, it was revealed that Ronaldo is set to face long-time rival Lionel Messi as Messi's Inter Miami side tours Saudi Arabia next year. The anticipated clash between Inter Miami and Al Nassr on February 1 could mark the 36th meeting between the two football legends. Xavier Asensi, Inter Miami's Chief Business Officer, expressed excitement about connecting with new fans in Saudi Arabia and capturing global attention with these highly anticipated matchups.