I don’t care about individual records anymore, Ronaldo says

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo in action during the Asian Champions League Group B match between Al-Nassr and Al-Rayyan at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh Monday. (Reuters)
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Updated 02 October 2024
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I don’t care about individual records anymore, Ronaldo says

  • The 39-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or award five times, scored in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 win over Al-Rayyan

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is focused on being the perfect team member at Saudi side Al-Nassr rather than collecting more individual accolades in the twilight of his career.

The 39-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or award five times, scored in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 win over Al-Rayyan of Qatar in their AFC Champions League Group B match on Monday.

It was the club’s fourth successive victory in all competitions under new coach Stefano Pioli, who replaced Luis Castro last month.

“It was a strong and difficult match like all the matches in the AFC Champions League, but the most important thing is that we created many chances and defended well to prevent the opponent from creating easy chances,” Ronaldo told a press conference.

“It is not important anymore whether I am the best or not, I no longer care about that. It is good for a player to score goals, but for me it is better for the team to win.

“I am used to breaking records and I no longer look for them. The most important thing for me now is to enjoy and help Al-Nassr and my teammates to win.”

Ronaldo became the top scorer in a single season in the Saudi Pro League last May with 35 goals.

The Portugal captain also scored his 901st career goal in a 2-1 win over Scotland in the Nations League last month.

“My goal against Al-Rayyan was different and important because my father would have been happy with it if he was alive, as today (yesterday) is his birthday,” the former Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United forward added.


LIV Golf to increase regular season field size to 57, adds third qualifying spot for LIV Golf Promotions

Updated 31 December 2025
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LIV Golf to increase regular season field size to 57, adds third qualifying spot for LIV Golf Promotions

  • LIV Golf Promotions will now reward the top three finishers with full-season wild card spots in the 2026 LIV Golf League

NEW YORK: LIV Golf on Tuesday announced it has increased its regular season field size and enhanced the qualifying opportunities for 2026 in the third edition of LIV Golf Promotions, set for Jan. 8–11 at the acclaimed Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida. 

The four-day, 72-hole stroke play event presents one of the most dynamic entry points into the global golf ecosystem, offering spots in the 2026 LIV Golf League and The International Series, sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

Beginning this February, LIV Golf’s regular season field size will increase to 57 players, with 13 four-player teams and five wild card players competing throughout the League’s global schedule. 

LIV Golf Promotions will now reward the top three finishers with full-season wild card spots in the 2026 LIV Golf League, an increase from the two spots previously announced. 

The top 10 finishers, including ties, will earn full exemption into the 2026 International Series, the set of elevated events sanctioned by the Asian Tour. The move further enhances the pathways into LIV Golf from 2025 to 2026, with an increase in exemptions from one to two players through The International Series and an increase from one to three players through LIV Golf Promotions. The five qualifying players will compete independently as wild cards in 2026 with guaranteed spots in the League’s 13 regular season events.

“LIV Golf is committed to moving the sport forward by expanding opportunity and access,” said LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil. “We are opening pathways — creating more chances for top talent to compete in the world’s golf league. Adding another qualifying spot strengthens our field and adds excitement to a season built on opportunity, competition, and growth.”

The top three finishers in LIV Golf Promotions will enter the 2026 LIV Golf League alongside Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and Japan’s Yosuke Asaji, who sealed their spots as the top two players in the final rankings of the 2025 International Series, which concluded last month at the 2025 PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club.