Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo called his first goal of 2025 the ‘best way to start the year’ after Al-Nassr scored a nervy home win over Saudi Pro League strugglers Al -Akhdoud.
In the two teams’ first match since the winter break in Saudi Arabia, the visitors took the lead through winger Savior Godwin at Riyadh’s Al-Awwal Park before Ronaldo scored a penalty between Sadio Mané’s double.
“I’m so happy to start the year with a victory and a goal,” Ronaldo told his millions of followers on social media, accompanying his response with photos of himself during the 3-1 victory. “Let’s go. Best way to start the year.
Number 1️⃣ in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ for CR7️⃣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/IKA1v0ZY4B
– Saudi Roshn League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
Al-Nassr vs Al-Akhdoud: Ronaldo returns for 2025
The first 28 minutes of Al-Nassr’s return to action were unforgettable, with their relegation-threatened opponents taking advantage of poor defending to take the lead in the sixth minute.
Sadio Mané saw the equalizer canceled out by a video assistant referee check in the 16th minute, but the Senegalese icon converted from close range in the 29th minute with his first goal in eight games for the club and country.
A foul on Mané then allowed Ronaldo to score from the spot three minutes before the break, although the Portugal captain was denied a quick second by goalkeeper Paulo Vitor when he cleared just before half-time.
Former Bayern Munich and Liverpool striker Mané responded to Al-Ghannam’s inviting cross from the right with an expert header to seal victory two minutes from time in a second half during which the outsiders pushed for the equalizer.
The first SIUUU of 2025 🐐#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/JKWcQvXJMM
– Saudi Roshn League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
Ronaldo Statistics 2024/25
Al-Nassr captain Ronaldo now has nine goals and one assist in his last six international and club matches in all competitions.
The 39-year-old has 11 goals in the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League, putting him behind the competition’s top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic of Al-Hilal.
Number 1️⃣ in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ for CR7️⃣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/IKA1v0ZY4B
– Saudi Roshn League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
This result ends Al-Nassr’s streak of two consecutive defeats in all competitions and lifts them to third place, eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad and six behind Al-Hilal, who both still have a game in hand. play.
With Al-Hilal traveling to 13th-placed Al-Orobah and Al-Ittihad visiting second-placed Al-Feiha on Saturday, the chances of Al-Nassr gaining ground among the top two this week are slim – but they cannot afford to lose more. points if they want to have a chance of winning the title late on.
Al-Nassr are next in action on January 17 (5:00 p.m. GMT) at Al-Taawoun, who are currently ninth having won five and lost five of their opening 13 league matches.
