The world of football is never short on drama, milestones, and moments that keep fans glued to their screens, and this August is proving to be no exception. As the summer of 2025 rolls on, two major storylines are captivating the global soccer community: Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of the 1,000-goal mark and the unveiling of the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees, setting the stage for another glittering ceremony in Paris. With preseason friendlies heating up and the season’s first silverware on the horizon, all eyes are on the sport’s brightest stars and their next moves.
On August 11, 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo once again demonstrated why he remains a footballing phenomenon, even as he nears two decades at the top. Playing for Al Nasr in a preseason friendly against Spain’s Segunda División side Almeria, Ronaldo started as the team’s front-line striker at the UD Almeria Stadium in Spain. Despite heavy rain and a hostile away crowd, the Portuguese icon wasted little time making his mark. After Al Nasr fell behind 0-1, Ronaldo coolly slotted home an equalizer in the 17th minute of the first half, capitalizing on a precise pass from Sadio Mane in the penalty box. The crowd barely had time to catch its breath before Ronaldo struck again, this time converting a penalty kick in the 39th minute to put his side ahead before halftime.
Though Al Nasr eventually lost the match 2-3 in the second half, the result did little to dampen the buzz around Ronaldo’s performance. His knack for finding the net—regardless of the stakes or setting—remains undiminished. According to the latest figures, Ronaldo has now scored a total of six goals in three preseason friendlies against European opposition this summer, with only two of those coming from the penalty spot. It’s a remarkable run of form that has fans and pundits alike pondering just how much more the 40-year-old legend can achieve.
What’s fueling this latest goal surge? Many point to the arrival of Joao Felix, the Portuguese forward who joined Al Nasr in a surprise summer transfer from Chelsea. Felix, who has a longstanding rapport with Ronaldo from their time together on the Portugal national team, has slotted seamlessly into the squad. Their chemistry on the pitch is already paying dividends, with Felix’s movement and creativity opening up new lanes for Ronaldo to exploit. It’s not just Felix who’s new to Al Nasr—Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez also joined the club in the off-season, adding steel to the backline and raising expectations for a campaign full of ambition.
Ronaldo’s own ambitions are as lofty as ever. With 938 career goals for club and country as of August 11, 2025, he’s now just 62 shy of the mythical 1,000-goal milestone—a feat no player in the modern era has ever achieved. Given his current scoring pace, it’s widely expected that Ronaldo could reach this landmark within the next two to three years. Al Nasr, for their part, are fully invested in their superstar’s chase for history, having inked him to a two-year contract extension at the end of last season. The club’s faith in Ronaldo is clear, and the anticipation around each goal he scores is palpable.
But while Ronaldo’s preseason exploits have dominated headlines, the broader football world is turning its gaze toward another annual spectacle: the Ballon d’Or. On August 10, 2025, the 30-man shortlist for football’s most prestigious individual award was revealed, generating its own swirl of debate and excitement. The ceremony is set to take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, on Monday, September 22, 2025—a glitzy affair that routinely draws the sport’s top talent and global media attention. While the official start time has yet to be confirmed, tradition suggests the festivities will kick off around 19:00 local time.
This year’s Ballon d’Or race is wide open, with a host of familiar faces and rising stars vying for the coveted trophy. Notably absent from the favorites is last year’s winner, Manchester City’s Rodri, who played a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph but is not expected to repeat due to injury woes that sidelined him for much of the 2024/25 campaign. Instead, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) players dominate the nominations, a testament to their recent Champions League victory and ongoing dominance in European football.
The list of nominees reads like a who’s who of world football: Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah, and Vinicius Jr, among others. PSG’s ranks are particularly well represented, with several players making the cut after their continental success. There’s also room for fresh faces, such as Scott McTominay, who earned a spot on the longlist following a standout debut season at Napoli. The presence of young talents like Lamine Yamal and Florian Wirtz signals a generational shift in the sport, even as established veterans continue to set the standard.
Of course, the Ballon d’Or is always as much about narratives as it is about numbers. Will PSG’s Champions League heroes be rewarded for their dominance? Could a Premier League star like Erling Haaland or Harry Kane tip the balance with a late-season surge? And what about the ever-present threat of a Real Madrid or Barcelona player stealing the spotlight at the last minute? The intrigue is thick, and with so many contenders in the mix, the final decision is sure to spark heated debates among fans and experts alike.
As the football calendar barrels toward the new season, anticipation is building on multiple fronts. For Ronaldo and Al Nasr, the immediate focus is the Saudi Super Cup semi-final against RT Hard on August 19—a chance to set the tone for the campaign and perhaps edge closer to that 1,000-goal dream. For the world’s elite, the countdown to the Ballon d’Or gala is officially underway, with reputations, legacies, and bragging rights all on the line.
One thing’s certain: whether it’s the relentless march of a living legend or the coronation of the next Ballon d’Or king, the beautiful game never stops delivering stories that capture the imagination. With new signings bedding in, records on the horizon, and the sport’s biggest stars ready to shine, football fans everywhere have plenty to look forward to as the action heats up.
