Ronaldo answers critics with a decisive goal for Al-Nassr
Back in competition with Al-Nassr after a turbulent international break, Cristiano Ronaldo chose to answer the criticism from Portugal by opening the scoring in the 23rd minute in the match against Al-Diriyah, which ended in a 3‑0 victory for the Saudis.
A goal that calms the storm
The goal was highly anticipated by Saudi supporters; the five‑time Ballon d’Or winner took advantage of a ball deflected by the opposing goalkeeper after a Kingsley Coman attempt to open the scoring. This action put an end to the criticism that had weighed on the Portuguese player since his hasty departure from the national team camp.
Samu Costa then doubled the lead, followed by Kingsley Coman who confirmed Al‑Nassr's success, sealing a 3‑0 victory over Al‑Diriyah on the eighth matchday of the Saudi Pro League. The result strengthened the club's position in the league.
Ronaldo returns to normalcy by opening Al‑Nassr's scoring
The match held particular significance for Ronaldo, who had been criticised in Portugal in recent days after his disagreement with manager Jorge Jesus. By scoring his 980th career goal, he moved closer to the symbolic 1,000‑goal milestone.
After the match, his teammate Owad Aman expressed his confidence, stating that the whole squad was behind him and regarded him as a benchmark. Ronaldo continues to enjoy the support of his entourage despite recent controversies.
Thanks to this victory, Al‑Nassr climbs to second place in the Saudi league, while the five‑time Ballon d’Or winner seems to have found a calmer atmosphere after several days of intense media pressure. The club hopes to continue this momentum in the upcoming fixtures.