Sport · India Bureau
Ronaldo ends Portugal row with goal in Al-Nassr victory
Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return to club football with a goal as Al-Nassr defeated Diriyah 3-0 in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, bouncing back after walking out of the Portugal squad during the international break.
LSN India ·
The 41-year-old Portuguese striker opened the scoring midway through the first half, converting a rebound after goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah blocked a shot from Kingsley Coman. The goal extended Ronaldo's career tally to 980, maintaining his prolific record since joining the Saudi club in 2023.
Al-Nassr's commanding victory kept the defending champions level on points with leader Al-Qadsiah, though behind on goal difference, in the eighth round of the domestic league. Samu Costa added a second goal to secure the convincing win.
Ronaldo's appearance came after he departed the Portugal national team camp during the recent international window. The striker released a lengthy statement on Tuesday, citing a disagreement with newly appointed coach Jorge Jesus over his playing time in the Nations League.
Despite the row with the national team, which he has represented in 234 appearances and 146 goals, Ronaldo demonstrated his continued importance to Al-Nassr's title ambitions. His immediate impact upon returning to club duty suggests the domestic dispute has not diminished his commitment to his Saudi Arabian outfit.