Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of reaching 1,000 career goals in 2026 has suffered another setback after Al Nassr’s match against Al Ahli was postponed for several months. The 41-year-old still needs 19 goals to reach the historic milestone.

Ronaldo Suffers Another Major Setback in Race to 1,000 Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo has suffered another setback in his race to reach 1,000 career goals after Al Nassr’s Saudi Pro League match against Al Ahli was postponed until March 2027.

The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar remains determined to reach one of the biggest milestones in football history.

However, unexpected changes to the Saudi Pro League schedule have made his goal of reaching 1,000 before the end of 2026 even more difficult.

With Ronaldo still needing 19 goals, losing a match from this year’s schedule is another obstacle in his race against time.

Al Nassr match postponed until March 2027

The Saudi Pro League officially announced on October 13 that three matches from Matchweek 9 would be rescheduled.

The biggest change affecting Ronaldo involves Al Nassr’s match against Al Ahli.

The game has now been moved to March 6, 2027, meaning Ronaldo will not have that opportunity to increase his goal total during the remainder of 2026.

Two other matches were also affected:

Al Riyadh against Al Hilal and Al Ittihad against Al Shabab were both moved to December 19, 2026.

The league explained that the changes were made because of logistical and organisational requirements, including the minimum rest period between matches.

The changes also come during a period of security concerns in Saudi Arabia, which have affected several sporting events.

Ronaldo remains 19 goals away from history

Despite the latest setback, Ronaldo continues to move closer to the historic 1,000-goal milestone.

The Al Nassr forward recently scored in a 3-1 victory against Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League.

The match was delayed by approximately one hour because of a security alert in Riyadh.

However, Ronaldo still managed to find the net and help his team secure an important victory.

That goal took his reported career total to 981, leaving him just 19 goals away from reaching 1,000.

At 41, Ronaldo remains one of the most remarkable goalscorers in world football.

But reaching the milestone before the end of the year is becoming increasingly challenging.

Ronaldo may have to wait until 2027

According to Brazilian outlet UOL, Ronaldo could have around 15 matches remaining in 2026 across club and international competitions.

With his recent scoring rate estimated at approximately one goal every two matches, reaching another 19 goals this year would require an exceptional run of performances.

The postponement of the Al Ahli match has now removed another potential scoring opportunity from his 2026 schedule.

That has increased speculation that Ronaldo may have to wait until 2027 to reach his historic target.

However, the postponed match has not been cancelled. Ronaldo could still play and score when the fixture takes place next March.

Portugal situation adds more uncertainty

Ronaldo has also faced problems away from Al Nassr following his recent disagreement with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus.

The Portuguese Football Federation handed him a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine after he left the national team camp without permission.

However, reports suggest most of his suspension has already been served, meaning he could become available for Portugal’s November matches.

His international return is not guaranteed, as Jorge Jesus must still decide whether to include him in the squad.

That uncertainty could also affect Ronaldo’s remaining opportunities to score international goals this year.

Al Nassr still have matches ahead

Despite the postponement, Ronaldo’s club season is continuing.

Al Nassr are scheduled to face NEOM SC on October 20 in the Saudi Pro League.

The Portuguese forward will therefore have further opportunities to increase his goal total in the coming weeks.

However, every missed match makes his target of reaching 1,000 goals before the end of 2026 more difficult.

Can Ronaldo still reach 1,000 goals this year?

Ronaldo has repeatedly shown that age is not stopping him from competing and scoring goals.

His determination and physical condition remain important reasons why he is still performing at a high level at 41.

However, with only a limited number of matches remaining this year, scoring another 19 goals would be a major challenge.

The postponed Al Ahli fixture does not end Ronaldo’s dream, but it increases the possibility that his 1,000th career goal will arrive in 2027 rather than 2026.

For now, the Portuguese legend remains focused on making history, even as unexpected problems continue to slow his journey.

The biggest question is no longer whether Ronaldo wants to reach 1,000 goals, but how quickly he can complete the final 19.