Cristiano Ronaldo Marks 100th Appearance With Two Goals in Dominant Al Nassr Victory

By Eppe Franklyne

Cristiano Ronaldo made a triumphant return to action on Friday, leading Al Nassr to a convincing 5–2 win over struggling Al Najma. The Portuguese legend, who had been sidelined since February with a hamstring injury, showed no signs of rust as he marked his 100th Saudi Pro League appearance in spectacular fashion. The 41-year-old’s brace helped his side maintain their lead at the summit of the table, proving his enduring value to the club’s title ambitions.

The match at Al-Awwal Park began with an unexpected twist. Despite Al Nassr’s early dominance, the visitors took a shock lead in the 44th minute when Rakan Al Tulayhi fired a powerful effort past the keeper following a swift counterattack. However, the league leaders responded with clinical efficiency. In a frantic period of first-half stoppage time, Abdullah Al Hamdan equalized before Sadio Mane produced a moment of individual brilliance, weaving through the defense to put Al Nassr ahead before the interval.

The second half brought more drama as Felippe Cardoso briefly restored parity for Al Najma just two minutes after the restart. Their joy was short-lived, however, as Ronaldo took center stage. In the 56th minute, the veteran forward calmly converted a penalty following a handball in the box. He then doubled his personal tally in the 73rd minute, finishing a low cross from Nawaf Bu Washl. Although initially flagged for offside, a VAR review confirmed the goal, before Sadio Mane added his second in the dying moments to seal the result.

This victory marks a remarkable 13th consecutive league win for Al Nassr, leaving them six points clear of second-placed Al Hilal. As the season enters its final stretch, the return of their talismanic captain provides a massive boost. With 97 goals in just 100 league games, Ronaldo’s presence continues to define the standard of excellence in the Saudi Pro League.

Do you think Al Nassr’s current winning streak is enough to finally secure the league title over their rivals Al Hilal?

Follow us for more