Cristiano Ronaldo: Al Nassr star's highest scoring years after scoring for 23rd successive year

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr bowed out of the AFC Champions League this week, losing to Emirati league side, Al Ain, via post-match penalties in the quarterfinals.

The veteran made an uncharacteristic miss in the game, failing to convert a 'golden opportunity' from close range as his side chased a deficit from the first leg.

However, Ronaldo could take solace in knowing his goal against Al Feiha earlier in the competition has set him in truly elite territory in terms of sheer consistency.

His first goal of the year meant he has scored at least a goal every year for 23 consecutive years since 2002, when he netted his first professional strike for Sporting Lisbon.

Let's look at the highest-scoring years of his career.

Ronaldo's best-scoring years

1. 69 goals - 2013

Per MessivsRonaldoapp, Ronaldo had his best goalscoring year in 2013 when he netted 69 times in 59 games. He scored 59 goals for Real Madrid and 10 for Portugal. He added 15 assists to his tally and won the Ballon d'Or that year despite not winning any major trophy.

2. 63 goals - 2012

Prior to having his best year in 2013, the 39-year-old beat his previous bests in 2012 with 63 goals, 58 of which came at the club side and just five for the national team. This year, his rival Lionel Messi scored 91 to eclipse the remarkable feat by the Madrid forward.

3. 61 goals - 2014

After a remarkable 69 goals in 2013, his goal-scoring dipped in 2014 by just eight goals, yet he managed more than 60 goals with 61. He helped Madrid to their 10 UEFA Champions League title and retained his Ballon d'Or, the first time he won it consecutively.

⚽️???? It's now TWENTY THREE consecutive years with at least one goal for Cristiano Ronaldo... mindblowing longevity! ✨ pic.twitter.com/Lg59CRZ93h

— MessivsRonaldo.app (@mvsrapp) February 14, 2024

4. 60 goals - 2021

2011 was the first year he scored 60 goals in 12 calendar months. He averaged a goal per game in total and had more goals than games for Real Madrid. He won the Copa del Rey but watched Messi win his third Ballon d'Or.

5. 57 goals - 2015

The former Manchester United forward scored 57 goals in 2015, again scoring a goal per game and having more goals than games for Los Blancos. He went trophyless, and Messi won his fifth Golden Ball, with Ronaldo having three at that time.

2003 was his lowest-scoring year with just one goal, and he has already surpassed that easily in 2024.

Despite moving closer to the end of his career, Ronaldo outscored Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane last year with 54 goals, per Sports Illustrated.