Cristiano Ronaldo scored just 18 minutes into his Al-Nassr return after ending his three-match strike over his frustrations at the club’s management.
The Portuguese icon, who turned 41 this month, put his side 1-0 up away at Al-Fateh in a crucial game in the Saudi Pro League title race.
Al-Nassr went into the match sat in third place and four points behind Al-Hilal, who added Karim Benzema to their ranks in the recent transfer window.
But Ronaldo showed no nerves as he volleyed home a Sadio Mane cross and dashed to the corner to carry out his trademark ‘Siu’ celebration, which the stadium lapped up.
The goal edged him onto 962 career goals, just 38 away from his target of 1,000. He is still scoring at an alarming rate, having banged in 19 in 23 matches this season.
Ronaldo wore the captain’s armband and is still popular with the club’s fanbase despite his three-game exile; they were waving flags in his honour in his absence.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Al-Nassr on his return from his three-match strike
Ronaldo has been frustrated at what he perceives to be the club’s lack of transfer ambition
His strike – despite being on £488,000 per day – came as he was reportedly furious at Al-Nassr’s lack of spending on transfers compared to their rivals.
Title rivals Al-Hilal have a net spend £180million higher than that of his own team since the 2022-23 season, when he arrived.
And that’s despite both clubs, as well as Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, all being majority owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Re-integrating Ronaldo is certainly a boost for Al-Nassr and also the Saudi Arabian football authorities, who want their league to appear as appealing as possible.
The worst-case scenario for them is that Ronaldo leaves before his contract expires in 2027.
In December, he hinted that he could finish his career elsewhere, saying: ‘my passion is high and I want to continue.
‘It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe.’
A recent statement shared with Daily Mail Sport from the league suggested that Ronaldo’s grievances were unfounded.
‘The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules,’ they said.
‘Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. That framework applies equally across the league.
‘Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. But no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club.’
The spokesperson added that recent transfer activity had ‘demonstrated that independence clearly’.
