Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo described his first goal of 2025 as “the best way to start the year” after Al-Nasr secured a nervy win at home to Saudi Arabia’s strugglers Al- Ahdud.
In both teams’ first game since the winter break in Saudi Arabia, the visitors took the lead through winger Xavier Godwin at Riyadh’s Al-Awwal Park before Ronaldo scored a penalty between the double of Sadio Mane.
“So happy to start the year with a win and a goal,” Ronaldo told his millions of followers on social media, accompanying his response with pictures of himself during Victory with 3-1. “Let’s go. Best way to start the year.”
Number 1️⃣ to 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ for CR7️⃣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/IKA1v0ZY4B
— Roshn Saudi 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 memorable, with their relegation-threatened rivals taking advantage of poor defending to take the lead in the sixth minute.
Sadio Mane denied an equalizer after a 16th-minute referee’s check, but the Senegalese icon converted from close range in the 29th minute with his first goal in eight games for club and country.
A foul on Mane then allowed Ronaldo to slot in from the spot three minutes before the break, although the Portugal captain was denied a second straight away by goalkeeper Paulo Vitor when he burst just before half-time.
Former Bayern Munich and Liverpool striker Mane met Al-Ghannam’s inviting cross from the right with a specialist header to seal victory two minutes from time in a second half in which the underdogs pushed for an equaliser.
The first SIUUU of 2025 🐐#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/JKWcQvXJMM
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
Ronaldo Stats 2024/25
Al-Nasr 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 Championship, putting him one behind the competition’s top scorer, Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Number 1️⃣ to 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ for CR7️⃣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/IKA1v0ZY4B
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
The result ended Al-Nassr’s two-game losing streak in all competitions and lifted them to third place, eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad and six behind Al-Hilal, both of whom have a game in hand .
With Al-Hilal away to 13th-placed Al-Orobah and Al-Ittihad visiting second-placed Al-Feiha on Saturday, the chances of Al-Nassr gaining ground in the top two this week are slim – but they don’t have the luxury to fall more. points if they are to have a late promotion chance for the title.
Al-Nassr are next in action on January 17 (5pm GMT) at Al-Taawoun, who are currently ninth after five wins and five losses from their opening 13 league matches.
