Cristiano Ronaldo ENDS The Year 2023 As World's Top Goal Scorer Beating Mbappe And Kane To The Achievement. {WATCH}

Cristiano Ronaldo has ended the year 2023 as the world’s top goal scorer.

The Al Nassr striker scored his 54th goal of this year as they beat Al Taawoun 4-1 in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday night.

Dutch midfielder Aschraf El Mahdioui gave the host Al Taawoun the lead in the 13th minute at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, before the visitors fought back to a massive win courtesy of goals from Marcelo Brozovic in the 26th minute, former Man City defender Aymeric Laporte in the 35th minute, Portuguese midfielder Otavio in the 50th minute, and finally Cristiano Ronaldo in the 90+2 minute.

It was Ronaldo's 20th goal in 18 league games so far this season.

All of his 54 goals for club and country came in 59 fixtures in 2023, while his football rival Lionel Messi has managed to score just 28 goals in 44 appearances.

Out of those 28 goals, 11 goals were for Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami in 14 matches whom he joined in the summer having rejected a move to Saudi Arabia.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 winner guided Inter Miami to their first ever trophy after helping them clinch the Leagues Cup 2023.

CRISTIANO RONALDO SCORES HIS 873RD CAREER GOAL 🤯

THE GREATEST PLAYER EVER 🐐pic.twitter.com/1pzrBZWkgb

— fan (@NoodleHairCR7) December 30, 2023

Ronaldo now has more goals in this calendar year than Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé (52) as well as Manchester City's star Erling Haaland (50).

None of the leading contenders will play again in 2023.

Reacting to the achievement, the 38-year-old responded with a post on the photo-sharing platform Instagram, writing: "54 -- I'll say when it's finished! Thanks, team."

It is the fifth time Ronaldo will finish the year as the world's top scorer. He has also achieved this similar feat in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 when playing for Spanish gaints at Real Madrid.

His 54 goals is the most Ronaldo has scored in a calendar year since netting 55 in 2016, when he won one of his five Ballon d'Or awards.

The former Man United, Real Madrid and Juventus player joined the Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr on 30th December, 2022 in a deal that would last until 2025 after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement by his former employers.

With the win, Al Nassr stay in second place in the Saudi Pro League standings, with 46 points from 19 games, seven points behind leaders Al Hilal.

Al-Nassr are scheduled to face Messi's Inter Miami termed "The Last Dance" which will be held in the Riyadh Season Cup at the Kingdom Arena Stadium in Saudi Arabia in February 1. 

The Riyadh Season Cup is part of Inter Miami’s pre-season preparation which will also mark their first-ever international tour.

The Saudi Pro league is set pause a while for the Asia Cup 2023, and to resume in February 2024.