Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has called his first goal of 2025 the “best way to start the year” after Al-Nassr secured a nervy win at home to Saudi Pro League strugglers Al-Akhdoud.
In both sides’ first match since the winter break in Saudi Arabia, the visitors took the lead through winger Saviour Godwin at Riyadh’s Al-Awwal Park before Ronaldo scored a penalty in between Sadio Mane’s double.
“So glad to start the year with a win and a goal,” Ronaldo told his millions of followers on social media, accompanying his response with photos of himself during the 3-1 victory. “Let’s go. Best way to start the year.”
Number 1️⃣ in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ for CR7️⃣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/IKA1v0ZY4B
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
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Al-Nassr vs Al-Akhdoud: Ronaldo returns for 2025
The first 28 minutes of Al-Nassr’s return to action were forgettable ones, with their relegation-threatened opponents capitalising on poor defending to take a sixth-minute lead.
Sadio Mane had an equaliser ruled out by a Video Assistant Referee check in the 16th minute, but the Senegal 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 swift second by goalkeeper Paulo Vitor when he broke clear just before half-time.
Former Bayern Munich and Liverpool forward Mane met Al-Ghannam’s inviting cross from the right with an expert header to seal victory two minutes from the end of 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 2024/25 stats
Al-Nassr 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 Pro League, putting him one behind competition top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, of Al-Hilal.
Number 1️⃣ in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ for CR7️⃣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/IKA1v0ZY4B
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
The result ended Al-Nassr’s run of two consecutive defeats in all competitions and lifted them to third, eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad and six behind Al-Hilal, both of whom have a game more to play.
With Al-Hilal away to 13th-placed Al-Orobah and Al-Ittihad visiting second-bottom Al-Feiha on Saturday, the chances of Al-Nassr gaining ground on the top two this week is slim – but they cannot afford to drop more points if they are to have any chance of a late surge for the title.
Al-Nassr are next in action on January 17 (5pm GMT) at Al-Taawoun, who are currently ninth after winning five and losing five of their first 13 league games.
