Ranking of the World’s Top Goal Scorers in 2023 Featuring Cristiano Ronaldo From Month to Month

• Cristiano Ronaldo finished 2023 as the highest scorer across the globe
• He was listed ahead of Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe
• Sports Brief breaks down how he reached the feat from month to month

Cristiano Ronaldo announced he was stepping away from mainstream Europe in 2023 after his poor relationship with Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, resulted in an unhappy divorce.

That came after a stellar return in 2021/22, with Ronaldo keen to prove he still has it in the Middle East by joining Saudi Pro League side, Al-Nassr, after falling out of favour at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese veteran has done exactly that, taking the league by storm as their marquee player and triggering an influx of summer moves for a number of elite European talents.

His stint with the Knights of Najd saw an impressive resurgence, captivating the league as its star player as he continues to cause records to tumble week in and week out.

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Sports Brief dissects Ronaldo's remarkable resurgence, ending the year as the world's top scorer ahead of Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland, Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, and PSG's all-time top scorer Kylian Mbappe.

How Ronaldo finished 2023 as top scorer

At the beginning of the year, Ronaldo faced an uphill task, with Mbappe, Haaland, and Kane leading the pack. His delayed debut with Al-Nassr in January hindered his early climb despite his team's victory over Al-Ettifaq, Al Jazeera reported.

However, he quickly caught up, demonstrating his scoring prowess to only trail the Frenchman, who had a strong start with nine goals in the first two months.

Haaland then surged ahead, dominating from March to October, propelled by Manchester City's stellar performance, which culminated in a historic treble.

Ronaldo's persistent drive kept him in contention, but injuries hampered Haaland's race in November, leaving the Portuguese ace, Kane, and Mbappe in a fierce three-way contest.

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The turning point arrived in December, when Al-Nassr's fixtures surpassed those of their European counterparts, offering Ronaldo more game time.

Seizing this opportunity, he tallied an impressive 54 goals per GOAL, edging out Mbappe and Kane, who closed the year with 52 goals each.

Here is the month-to-month breakdown:

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Ronaldo reacts after becoming 2023 top scorer

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Sports Brief previously reported that Ronaldo vowed to try 'do it again' after consolidating his place as the top scorer of 2023 with another goal on December 30.

In typical elite fashion, the 38-year-old’s response was that of a player still hungry for more success and goals, expressing his pride at his achievements.