Al-Nassr breaks an 87-year-old record; new history made with Ronaldo.

José Manuel Moreno Fernández—known in the football world as ‘El Charro’ (The Cowboy)—held the distinction of being the first footballer to win top-flight league titles in four different countries. Many regard him as a peer to legends like Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Alfredo Di Stéfano.

A legend of Argentine football, Moreno was a key member of River Plate’s famous ‘La Máquina’ (The Machine) squad during the 1940s. There were many tales surrounding this inside-forward, who won the Copa América twice with Argentina; it is said that a local newspaper once promised a gold medal to any goalkeeper who could keep him from scoring. There were even rumors that he placed iron inside his boots to increase the power of his shots.

Moreno passed away in 1978, the same year Argentina won its first World Cup. However, his name has recently resurfaced in discussions thanks to the Saudi club Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Al-Nassr Breaks an 87-Year-Old Record

In the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr played out a 1–1 draw against Al-Khaleej at the latter's home ground the day before yesterday. Although they did not win the match, the draw allowed Ronaldo’s team to make history. Al-Nassr now holds the world record for scoring in the highest number of consecutive matches in a domestic top-flight league.

For a long time, this record was held by River Plate. Between September 13, 1936, and June 4, 1939, they scored in 93 consecutive matches in the Argentine top division, netting a total of 301 goals during that period.

Moreno was a key member of that historic River Plate side, playing for the club from 1935 to 1944. His partnership with Adolfo Pedernera—another legendary inside-forward of the 1940s—was a driving force behind the success of River Plate’s ‘La Máquina’. Ronaldo’s Role in Equalling the Record

Cristiano Ronaldo played a pivotal role in helping Al-Nassr match an 87-year-old record held by River Plate.

The Portuguese star scored the opening goal in Al-Nassr's 2-1 victory over Abha in the Saudi Pro League on September 9. With that goal, Al-Nassr equaled River Plate's record of scoring in 93 consecutive matches.

Subsequently, Saudi forward Abdullah Al-Hamdan scored for Al-Nassr against Al-Khaleej. It was his goal that saw Al-Nassr surpass River Plate, establishing a new world record for scoring in 94 consecutive top-flight domestic league matches.

Al-Nassr's scoring streak began on December 8, 2023, during a 4-1 win over Al-Riyadh.

Another River Plate Record Remains Intact

However, Al-Nassr has not broken all of River Plate's records. When considering all official matches—not just league games—one record held by the Argentine club remains unbroken.

River Plate once scored in 96 consecutive official matches, a feat that stands as a world record to this day. This streak comprised 93 league matches, two matches in a bilateral competition between the AFA and AUF against Peñarol, and one national cup match against Rosario Central.

In other words, while Al-Nassr surpassed River Plate's record of 93 consecutive matches in the domestic top flight, the record of 96 consecutive matches across all official competitions remains out of reach.

Thus, the legacy of Moreno's "La Máquina" has not been completely erased. Yet, 87 years later, Ronaldo and Al-Nassr have certainly written a new chapter in that history on Saudi soil.