Cristiano Ronaldo started the new year in style, scoring his first goal of 2025 as Al Nassr won 3-1 over Al Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Match Overview
Ronaldo’s goal came just before halftime, his 11th in the league this season. In 2024, he scored 36 goals in 39 games for Al Nassr, bringing his career total to 917 goals.
Score
Final score: Al Nassr 3 – 1 Al Akhdoud
Al Nassr Goals: 3
- Sadio Mane (29′, 88′)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (42′ – penalty)
Al Akhdoud Goals: 1
- Saviour Godwin (6′)
Cristiano Ronaldo Posts
Cristiano Ronaldo posts photos on his X.com account with tag way to start the year 😜
Best way to start the year 😜 pic.twitter.com/x1GZSv8bQN
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) January 9, 2025
Key moments
Early blow: Al Akhdoud took the lead six minutes into the match through a goal from Saviour Godwin, taking advantage of a defensive misunderstanding between Bento and Laporte.
Al Nassr responds: Sadio Mane equalises in the 29th minute, finishing off a great team move. Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute after a foul on Mane, giving Al Nassr a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Al Nassr Fc Post on X.com Good Night Riyadh
Good night, Riyadh! 👋💛 pic.twitter.com/GytXZiFccc
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 9, 2025
Dominance in the second half: In the second half, Mane scored the third goal in the 88th minute to seal the win for Al Nassr.
Yellow Cards
Al Nassr:
- Laporte (7′) – Warned for intentionally waving his arm during a challenge on Godwin.
- Al-Ghannam (71′) – Yellow card for fouling Al Akhdoud’s goalkeeper during a corner.
Al Akhdoud:
Lowe (34′) – Received a yellow card for fouling Angelo, contributing to the physical nature of the match.
Standings Impact
With this win, Al Nassr moved up to third place in the league standings, now having 28 points from 14 matches.
They are 11 points behind league leaders Al Ittihad and are keen to improve their performance after a challenging start to the season.
Watch Highlights Here Al Nassr vs Al Akhdoud
Upcoming Matches
Al Nassr will look to keep this momentum going when they face Al Taawoun in another league match on Friday, January 17. Additionally, they will resume their Champions League playoffs in February, aiming to qualify for the Round of 16.
Ronaldo’s performance not only showcased his enduring talent but also confirmed his commitment to Al Nassr as he approaches his 40th birthday in February. The Knights of Najd are determined to win the title this season, and led by players like Ronaldo and Mane, they have a solid chance of success.