Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo marked his highly anticipated return to competitive action for Al Nassr by scoring his 977th career goal. This significant strike contributed to a resounding 4-0 victory over Al Riyadh, signifying a strong start to Al Nassr’s 2026-27 season.
The 41-year-old superstar made his comeback for the reigning champions after a period that included his national team commitments at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, as well as a private wedding ceremony with his wife, Georgina Rodriguez.
For this particular encounter, which was the second-week fixture of the Saudi Pro League season, Ronaldo was initially named among the substitutes by Al Nassr’s new head coach, Ange Postecoglou. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was introduced into the match in the 62nd minute, stepping onto the pitch with Al Nassr already holding a commanding 3-0 lead. The team’s initial goals were adeptly scored by his teammates Abdulelah Al Amri, Angelo Gabriel, and Joao Felix.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward then found the back of the net himself in the 83rd minute, with just seven minutes left in regular play. This inaugural goal of the 2026-27 season for both the Portuguese captain and Al Nassr came from a well-placed assist by teammate Aiman Yahya.
This latest goal further propels Ronaldo closer to the extraordinary milestone of 1,000 career goals, a testament to his enduring prowess. Additionally, this strike marked his 130th goal for Al Nassr since he joined the club in early 2023.
Ronaldo’s return followed his absence from Al Nassr’s first competitive fixture of the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season the previous week, a match where the team still secured a victory against Al Fetah. He had also been unavailable for a King’s Cup tie against Al Diriyah prior to this performance.
