Cristiano Ronaldo makes touching dedication to late dad with latest goal

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his latest goal by pointing to the sky in memory of his father, who would have turned 71 on this day.

The Al-Nassr star scored his team’s second goal in a 2-1 victory over Al-Rayyan in the AFC Champions League Elite.

Sadio Mané opened the scoring, followed by Ronaldo, who continued his impressive start to the season.

While Ronaldo’s goal celebrations are well-known, this time he pointed to the sky, marking a poignant tribute.

The forward was just 20 years old when his father, José, passed away in 2005 at the age of 52 due to an alcohol-related liver condition.

Ronaldo said: “Today’s goal has a different flavor…

“I wish my father was alive because today is his birthday.”

The Al-Nassr star has seldom discussed his relationship with his father.

His father’s passing occurred before he could witness Ronaldo’s remarkable rise in football.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner expresses sadness over the fact that his father has not been able to share in his successes.

He said in a previous interview: “I really don’t know my father 100 per cent.

“He was a drunk person.

“I never spoke with him, like a normal conversation.

“It was hard.

“To be the number one and he don’t see nothing, and he don’t see to receive awards, to see what I became.”

Ronaldo’s strike against Al Rayyan marks a significant milestone, as he has now scored more goals in his 30s than he did in his 20s, showcasing his continued prolificacy later in his career.

Since turning 30, he has netted an impressive 441 goals in just 523 games.

In contrast, during his 20s, he scored 440 goals over a span of 596 matches.

Ronaldo celebrated his 30th birthday on February 5, 2015, while at Real Madrid, where he began to produce astonishing numbers.

At the Bernabéu, Ronaldo transformed into a center forward after starting his career as a winger.

This role has carried over to his time at clubs like Juventus and Manchester United, where he has consistently earned individual accolades for his goal-scoring prowess.

His career total has recently surpassed 900 goals, and Ronaldo has expressed his desire to eventually reach the four-figure mark, indicating that he plans to continue playing for several more years.

“I want to reach 1,000 goals,” Cristiano Ronaldo said.

“If I don’t have any injuries, this for me is the most important [thing]. I want that.”

He added: “I’m just enjoying playing football now as I know I don’t have much time left on the pitch

“It is not important to me now to be the best player or to win awards.

“What is important to me now is to enjoy and help my team.”

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