5-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has known as his first aim of 2025 the “greatest solution to begin the 12 months” after Al-Nassr secured a nervy win at residence to Saudi Professional League strugglers Al-Akhdoud.
In either side’ first match because the winter break in Saudi Arabia, the guests took the lead by means of winger Saviour Godwin at Riyadh’s Al-Awwal Park earlier than Ronaldo scored a penalty in between Sadio Mane’s double.
“So glad to start out the 12 months with a win and a aim,” Ronaldo instructed his tens of millions of followers on social media, accompanying his response with pictures of himself through the 3-1 victory. “Let’s go. Greatest solution to begin the 12 months.”
Number one️⃣ in 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 primary 28 minutes of Al-Nassr’s return to motion had been forgettable ones, with their relegation-threatened opponents capitalising on poor defending to take a sixth-minute lead.
Sadio Mane had an equaliser dominated out by a Video Assistant Referee test within the sixteenth minute, however the Senegal icon transformed from shut vary within the twenty ninth minute along with his first aim in eight video games for membership and nation.
A foul on Mane then allowed Ronaldo to fit in from the spot three minutes earlier than the break, though the Portugal captain was denied a swift second by goalkeeper Paulo Vitor when he broke clear simply earlier than half-time.
Former Bayern Munich and Liverpool ahead Mane met Al-Ghannam’s inviting cross from the precise with an professional header to seal victory two minutes from the tip of a second half during which the underdogs pushed for an equaliser.
The primary SIUUU of 2025 🐐#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/JKWcQvXJMM
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
Ronaldo 2024/25 stats
Al-Nassr captain Ronaldo now has 9 targets and one help in his final six worldwide and membership matches in all competitions.
The 39-year-old has 11 targets within the 2024/25 Saudi Professional League, placing him one behind competitors prime scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, of Al-Hilal.
Number one️⃣ in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ for CR7️⃣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/IKA1v0ZY4B
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
The consequence ended Al-Nassr’s run of two consecutive defeats in all competitions and lifted them to 3rd, eight factors behind leaders Al-Ittihad and 6 behind Al-Hilal, each of whom have a recreation extra to play.
With Al-Hilal away to Thirteenth-placed Al-Orobah and Al-Ittihad visiting second-bottom Al-Feiha on Saturday, the probabilities of Al-Nassr gaining floor on the highest two this week is slim – however they can not afford to drop extra factors if they’re to have any probability of a late surge for the title.
Al-Nassr are subsequent in motion on January 17 (5pm GMT) at Al-Taawoun, who’re at the moment ninth after profitable 5 and dropping 5 of their first 13 league video games.