Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return to club football with a goal as Al Nassr secured a convincing 3–0 victory over Al Diriyah on Friday. The 41-year-old Portuguese forward reached 980 career goals with his strike, making an immediate impact after leaving Portugal’s national team camp a week earlier.
His return came amid recent controversy surrounding his role in Portugal’s national team and his reported disagreement with coach Jorge Jesus. Despite the uncertainty, Ronaldo received a warm welcome from Al Nassr supporters, who made their admiration for the veteran forward clear before kick-off.
Fans displayed a large banner bearing the message, ‘Greatness is earned’, alongside Ronaldo’s iconic number seven. In the seventh minute, supporters chanted his name, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere inside the stadium.
Ronaldo responded to the reception by opening the scoring in the 23rd minute. Former Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman advanced before taking a shot that Al Diriyah goalkeeper Walid Ali failed to hold. Ronaldo reacted quickly to the rebound and sent the ball into the net, giving Al Nassr the lead.
The goal took Ronaldo’s career tally to 980, adding another milestone to a career that has spanned several of the world’s leading football competitions. Despite being 41, he continues to play a central role in Al Nassr’s attacking efforts.
Al Nassr maintained their advantage and extended their lead in the first half. Samu Costa scored in the 35th minute to make it 2–0, putting the home side in a commanding position.
Coman completed the scoring in the 77th minute, finding the net himself to seal a comfortable 3–0 victory. His contribution proved important, as he was involved in the build-up to Ronaldo’s opening goal before adding one of his own.
The result left Al Nassr level on points with Al Qadsiah at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings. However, Al Nassr remained behind their rivals on goal difference. With several other teams still due to play over the weekend, the league table could change further.
Ronaldo’s return followed his departure from Portugal’s national team camp on 27 September. On that day, Portugal defeated Norway 2–1 in a UEFA Nations League fixture. Ronaldo remained on the substitutes’ bench throughout the match and was not brought on.
He later claimed that Jesus had failed to honour a promise made to him. The pair had worked together at Al Nassr during the previous season, and the reported disagreement attracted attention in Portugal.
Despite the controversy, Ronaldo has maintained that he remains available for international duty. In a statement issued earlier in the week, he confirmed that he was still prepared to represent his country. However, it remains unclear whether his departure from the national team camp will result in disciplinary action.
Following Friday’s match, Ronaldo shared a photograph of his goal celebration on social media, accompanied by the message: ‘Job done. Next game!’ The brief post indicated that he was already looking ahead to his next challenge.
Ronaldo’s international record remains remarkable. He has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, making him the leading goalscorer in men’s international football.
For Al Nassr, his return provided a timely boost as the club continues its pursuit of success in the Saudi Pro League. The victory, combined with Ronaldo’s milestone goal and the enthusiastic reception from supporters, offered a reminder of his enduring influence on the team.
Although questions remain over his situation with Portugal, Ronaldo’s performance showed that he remains focused on club football. His latest goal added another landmark to his career while helping Al Nassr maintain their challenge near the top of the league table.
