Cristiano Ronaldo may not be adjudged top scorer of 2023 due to this FIFA decision

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Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr in January this year raised a few eyebrows who traded European football with the cash-riched Saudi Arabian league.

Ronaldo's struggle for form at Manchester United saw him outbursting in an interview which led the Manchester giant to terminate his contract. However, the 38-year-old found a new lease of life once again with Al Nassr.

After some initial struggle, Ronaldo has now again established himself as one of the best strikers in the world and his stats validate it.

In a stunning display of prowess on the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo soared to the summit of the 2023 goal-scoring charts after notching a brilliant brace in Al Nassr's commanding 5-2 victory over Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.

The Portuguese maestro's goal tally for the calendar year now stands at an impressive 53 goals across various competitions, including the Saudi Pro League, AFC Champions League, Kings Cup of Champions, and international matches for Portugal, surpassing the likes of Erling Haaland(50), Kylian Mbappe(52), and Harry Kane(52). However, Ronaldo's claim to the coveted top-scorer label may face a hurdle due to FIFA's regulations.

FIFA reportedly does not accord major competition status to the UAFA's Arab Club Champions Cup, a tournament in which Ronaldo showcased his scoring prowess with six goals, including a decisive brace in the final against Al Hilal. The matter arises from the fact that Saudi Arabia's Sports Minister labeled the competition as a "friendly tournament" when Al Nassr clinched victory back in August.

It may potentially impact Ronaldo's overall tally bringing down his total tally to 47. However, despite this uncertainty, Ronaldo still has one more opportunity to enhance his goal-scoring record with a scheduled game against Al Taawoun on December 30th. To secure his place at the pinnacle, the legendary forward would need to find the back of the net six times in that match.

Regardless of the outcome, Ronaldo's performance throughout the year has been nothing short of exceptional, marking a triumphant rebound after facing challenges in the previous season.