New Delhi: Al Nassr FC star Cristiano Ronaldo kicked off the Saudi Pro League 2024 season with a strong statement after scoring his record 50th goal in the league. The season opener against Al Raed ended in a 1-1 draw after Ronaldo’s 34th-minute header was equalized with a penalty kick in the 49th minute.
Sadio Mane crafted the goal well after floating a cross from the left flank as Ronaldo rose high to take home his 50th goal for Al Nassr as 22-year-old goal-stopper Meshari Sunyur remained incapable of responding on his RSL debut. Last season, the 39-year-old scored a record 35 goals for the club, and it looks like he started this season on the same note. The Portuguese striker is now just eight goals away from scoring 900 career goals for clubs and country combined, making him the first footballer to do so.
CRISTIANO RONALDO WHAT A HEADER! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/64lhLlyNgV
— TC (@totalcristiano) August 22, 2024
Ronaldo would have sealed the game with 15 minutes remaining, having gone into the nets for the second game; however, the referee ruled him offside after a long VAR check. Ronaldo’s side was also denied a penalty for handball deep in the second-half stoppage time, though the referee had reviewed the incident on the pitch-side monitor.
After leaving Manchester United, Ronaldo is still looking for his first major trophy since joining Al-Nassr. Al Nassr finished runner-up against Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and Saudi King’s Cup last season. They were beaten by the Riyadh team in the Saudi Super Cup last Saturday. Ronaldo is coming to the side after a below-par performance in the Euros, where Portugal crashed out of the quarter-finals. Ronaldo failed to score a single goal in the tournament.
However, with the goal, Ronaldo has once again proven that he still has the strength in his neck and can leap and deliver those powerful headers against a goalkeeper almost half his age. Sneaking ahead of his marker, he brought back the memories of his peak years in La Liga and Premier League.
39-year-old Portuguese striker scores in Al Nassr opener as they draw 1-1 against Al-Raed. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
