Thanks in part to Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr have strengthened their position at the top of the Saudi league. The 40-year-old Portuguese forward struck twice again in the first half against Al Okhdood (3-0). He still needs 44 goals to reach his big target.
Cristiano Ronaldo once again reminded everyone why his name still dominates headlines, delivering another decisive performance for Al-Nassr in their 3-0 win over Al Okhdood.
The match followed a familiar script for the Portuguese forward: constant movement in and around the box, ruthless timing when chances appeared, and an instinctive calm in the moments that matter most. For Al-Nassr, it was more than just another victory. It was a statement of control, built on early efficiency, sustained pressure, and a front line that continues to look increasingly fluent.
The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute, and it came from a situation where Ronaldo remains one of the most dangerous players in world football: a set piece delivered into the penalty area. João Félix swung in the corner, and the move immediately had Al Okhdood under stress. The initial contact, a glancing header that redirected the ball into a dangerous zone, caused a split-second of hesitation in the defensive line. That is often all Ronaldo needs. Reading the bounce before anyone else, he attacked the space and finished from close range with the kind of simple, clinical touch that makes his goals look inevitable. It was not a spectacular finish in terms of technique, but it was spectacular in terms of anticipation. The sharpness in the box, the timing of the run, and the certainty of the final touch summed up the difference between a great striker and a defender trying to react.
Fifteen minutes later, the same theme returned: Al-Nassr created an opening, and Ronaldo punished it immediately. This time the chance was built from open play, with Marcelo Brozović providing a low, driven delivery into the area. The cross arrived with pace and accuracy, designed to force a decision from both defenders and goalkeeper. Ronaldo positioned himself perfectly, adjusted his body at the last moment, and guided the ball into the net in an unusual but effective way, sending it in past his standing leg. It was the kind of finish that shows how complete his scoring toolkit remains. At that distance and at that speed, there is no time for a striker to overthink. The execution has to be automatic, and Ronaldo’s second goal looked exactly like that: instinctive, efficient, and decisive.
Those 2 goals carried significance beyond the result itself. After the second strike, Ronaldo’s career tally moved to 956 goals, counting both club and international matches. He has been open about the objective now driving him forward: reaching 1,000 career goals. That leaves him 44 short of what he considers a personal landmark, and each brace brings that target noticeably closer. In an era where most players at his age are managing minutes and reducing expectations, Ronaldo is still building personal milestones on top of team responsibilities. His ambition is not presented as a farewell tour. Instead, it is framed as a continuing mission, one match at a time, one finish at a time.
Al-Nassr, for their part, benefited not only from Ronaldo’s finishing but also from the growing influence of the players around him. João Félix had a direct impact with the corner that led to the opener, and his role in linking play helped Al-Nassr maintain rhythm and territory. Brozović, meanwhile, offered control and precision, delivering the kind of pass that turns a promising situation into a clear scoring chance. When a side has this mix of creativity and composure behind a striker like Ronaldo, it becomes difficult to defend for long stretches. Even teams that sit deep and try to survive waves of pressure can be undone by a single delivery, a single lapse, or a single moment of elite movement.
In the second half, Ronaldo thought he had added another goal, only for the effort to be disallowed. Moments like that often shift the tone of a match, especially if the opponent senses an opening after a key decision goes their way. Al Okhdood, however, did not find a route back into the game. Al-Nassr continued to manage the match professionally, keeping defensive discipline while still looking dangerous whenever they attacked with speed. The disallowed goal became a footnote rather than a turning point, largely because Al-Nassr never lost control of the contest.
Deep into stoppage time, Al-Nassr added a third goal to underline the scoreline, and João Félix got his reward with a finish of his own. It was a fitting conclusion, reflecting how the game had unfolded: Al-Nassr creating repeatedly, applying pressure until the final whistle, and showing that their attacking options do not end with Ronaldo. For Félix, a late goal also carries value beyond the match, reinforcing confidence and adding to the sense that the team’s key attacking pieces are starting to combine more naturally.
The wider picture is clear. Al-Nassr are not simply collecting points, they are building momentum, and performances like this reinforce the idea that they can set the pace in the league. Ronaldo remains the headline act, but the supporting cast is increasingly important. When chance creation is shared, when service remains consistent, and when the midfield provides both structure and quality, Ronaldo’s output becomes easier to sustain across a long season.
For Ronaldo, every match now seems to operate on 2 levels at once. There is the immediate objective of winning and keeping Al-Nassr at the top end of the competition. Then there is the longer narrative that follows him everywhere: the pursuit of 1,000 goals, and the determination to keep delivering at a level that continues to surprise even those who have watched his entire career unfold. With 44 goals remaining to reach that personal landmark, the next weeks and months will be watched with the same question in mind: not if he will score again, but how quickly he can close the gap.
Updated: 05:52, 27 Dec 2025
