Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on one of football's most remarkable milestones after scoring three goals in Al Nassr's latest win.

What happened

The Portuguese forward reportedly scored in the 66th, 72nd and 81st minutes as Al Nassr beat Al Kholood 5-3 at their home ground in Riyadh, according to reports on Friday, 30 October 2026. The hat-trick took his career tally for club and country to 985 goals, leaving him 15 short of 1,000.

Background

Ronaldo, 41, joined Al Nassr in 2023 and has continued to score regularly in the Saudi Pro League. He has said publicly that reaching 1,000 goals is one of his remaining goals before retirement. His career total includes goals for Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr and Portugal, for whom he is the all-time leading international scorer.

A big week

The hat-trick came in the same week that fans voted his 2007-08 season at Manchester United the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning season of all time in a poll run by France Football.

What happens next

At his current scoring rate, Ronaldo could reach the 1,000-goal mark before the end of the season, and fans around the world will be counting down.

The Africa Cup of Nations will once again be played every two years after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed its earlier decision to move the tournament to a four-year cycle.

What happened

CAF's Executive Committee reportedly approved the change unanimously on Thursday, 29 October 2026, after months of discussion. CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the decision in a statement on the body's website.

Why CAF changed course

Motsepe said the decision was taken to advance and protect the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and African players at clubs abroad. CAF had planned to introduce an Africa Nations League to fill the gap between tournaments, but it was reportedly concerned about how long the new competition would take to deliver the expected money and development benefits. Returning to a two-year AFCON was seen as the safer option in the short term.

What comes next

AFCON 2027 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Motsepe said he was confident the three countries would deliver a successful competition. He described AFCON as more than a football tournament, calling it a celebration of African cultures that brings together people on the continent and in the diaspora.

Background

AFCON has been held every two years for most of its history, which has sometimes caused friction with European clubs that lose key players in the middle of their seasons. The move to a four-year cycle had been welcomed by some clubs but criticised by many fans and smaller federations, who rely on tournament income.

How fans reacted

Many African football fans, including Nigerians, welcomed the decision, saying more frequent AFCONs give the Super Eagles and other national teams more chances to compete for the title.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is a father again after his partner, Stefanie Ladewig, gave birth to a baby girl.

What happened

His club, Galatasaray, announced the birth on social media on Thursday, 29 October 2026, congratulating the striker and Stefanie on the arrival of their daughter. The baby has reportedly been named Liora Audrey. The exact date of birth was not given.

Background

It is the couple's second child. Their first daughter, Hailey, was born in October 2022. The good news comes during a strong spell for Osimhen on the pitch. He scored twice in Galatasaray's derby win over Fenerbahçe on Monday and is closing in on the club's record for goals by a foreign player, with 68 goals so far.

How fans reacted

Nigerian and Turkish fans flooded social media with congratulations, with many joking that the new baby had brought him luck in front of goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo has received a special 'Ballon d'Or of All Time' honour after fans voted his 2007-08 season at Manchester United the greatest in the history of the award.

What happened

The prize was reportedly presented by France Football, the magazine that runs the Ballon d'Or, after a month-long public online vote. The result was reported on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Lionel Messi's 2012 season finished second, while Ronaldo's own 2017 season came third.

The winning season

In 2007-08, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions and helped Manchester United win both the Premier League and the Champions League. That season earned him his first Ballon d'Or, the start of a long rivalry with Messi that saw the two players dominate the award for more than a decade.

What Ronaldo said

The Portuguese star thanked fans around the world on social media, saying football belongs to the fans and that the award belongs to them too.

How fans reacted

The result reignited the endless debate between supporters of Ronaldo and Messi. Ronaldo's fans celebrated the win as proof of his greatness, while Messi supporters pointed out that the Argentine has won more Ballon d'Or titles in total. The honour comes days after England captain Harry Kane won this year's Ballon d'Or.