Cristiano Ronaldo once again showcased his class as he netted a stunning brace to lead Al Nassr to a crucial 2-1 comeback victory over Al Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League, keeping their hopes alive in the ongoing title race. The match saw Ronaldo rise to the occasion in the second half, as he scored two pivotal goals after his team trailed 0-1 at halftime.
The opening goal came from Faiz Selemani of Al Riyadh in first-half stoppage time, capitalizing on a rebound to break the deadlock. However, the momentum shifted after the break when Ronaldo turned into the game-changer. In the 56th minute, he tapped in a goal after receiving a perfectly timed assist from Sadio Mane, a former Liverpool forward, drawing Al Nassr level.
Just eight minutes later, the 40-year-old legend delivered a world-class moment by smashing home a brilliant volley into the top corner, putting Al Nassr ahead 2-1. That goal marked his 933rd career strike, as he continues to etch his name deeper into football history.
Currently, Al Nassr sit third in the Saudi Pro League standings, trailing Al Hilal by just one point and league leaders Al Ittihad by eight points. Ronaldo’s consistent form has been crucial in their pursuit of the title this season.
So far this season, Ronaldo has recorded 32 goals and 4 assists, reaffirming his dominance even at 40. Despite closing in on the mythical 1,000-goal mark, the Portuguese star emphasized he is not chasing that record as an obsession.
“Let’s enjoy the moment… I’m not chasing 1,000 goals as obsession,” Ronaldo said during a post-match interview. “If it happens, perfect. If it doesn’t happen, it’s okay. The moment is the most special thing — not what’s gonna come.”
Acknowledging that he’s in the final phase of his glittering career, Ronaldo mentioned that he prefers to focus on the present, soaking in every bit of joy from the game.
“These are the last years of my career. Records are nice but now I want to enjoy each moment championship after championship,” he added. “I want to continue step by step and live fully in the now.
