Cristiano Ronaldo marked his first appearance of the new Saudi Pro League season with a goal. Al Nassr beat Al Riyadh 4-0 at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium on Friday.
Ronaldo came off the bench in the 62nd minute and capped the win with a calm finish in the 83rd. It was his first goal of the campaign and the 977th of his career.
It also means he has now scored in 25 consecutive professional seasons.
Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty ImagesCristiano Ronaldo back among the goals on his season debutThe record books were not finished there. The strike made Ronaldo Al Nassr’s all-time top scorer in the Saudi league in the professional era, level with Mohammed Al-Sahlawi on 103 goals.
He needs just one more to claim the record outright.
The goal itself came after substitute Ayman Yahya burst down the right and cut the ball back across the box. Ronaldo took a touch and finished past goalkeeper Milan Borjan to complete the rout.
Al Nassr were already in control by then. Abdulelah Al-Amri headed them in front after 18 minutes from a corner, Angelo made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, and Joao Felix curled in a third in the 58th minute.
Ronaldo came on to a huge reception moments earlier and had already gone close, producing a trademark piece of skill before seeing a low effort gathered by Borjan. The 977th career goal of the 41-year-old was never in doubt once it arrived.
The win left Al Nassr on six points after two rounds, second in the table and level with Al Hilal behind them on goal difference. Al Riyadh meanwhile, remain winless and sit 18th.
There is more to come from the captain, too. Last season he finished as Al Nassr’s top scorer with 28 goals, and he starts this season with beast mode.
One more goal in the coming rounds will take him to the top of another historic list, as he chases to make the most out of which is said to be his last season as a professional football player.
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