'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwT/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMTnKz//xAAbEAADAAMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAxEAAhIhYf/aAAgBAQABPwByWd7dtvhs1lwPcAAG7QfTn//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEA/9oACAECAQE/ABv/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/aAAgBAwEBPwCv/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The first domestic match of the season at Al-Nassr for Cristiano Ronaldo saw the five-time Ballon d'Or winner score in his team's win. Saudi fans were treated to the club captain pulling off his famous 'SIU' celebration as well.
Watch the goal and celebration here:
After an unsuccessful Euro 2024 campaign where Portugal exited in the quarter-final, Ronaldo resumed club responsibilities in Saudi with a stellar performance against Al-Taawoun. In the Saudi Super Cup semi-final, the Portuguese doubled his side's lead in the 57th minute after Ayman Yahya put Al-Nassr in front in the eighth minute.
Ronaldo finished a slick team move that saw a nice exchange down the right side before the ball was cut back for the club captain to slot home beyond Brazilian goalkeeper Mailson.
Al-Nassr were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time as Marcelo Brozovic received a red. However, they held on to qualify for the final of the Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo looking forward to the road ahead
The Portuguese superstar shared his excitement of reaching the final of the domestic competition on social media. In a post on his official X account, Cristiano Ronaldo posted images from their semi-final win with the caption, "Super Cup final here we come!" accompanied by a fire emoji.
Al-Nassr won the Saudi Super Cup twice in their history: 2019 and 2020. The task of winning the trophy for only the third time in their history will be extremely difficult as they face Jorge Jesus' Al-Hilal in the final.
Al-Hilal are the defending Saudi Super Cup champions. They also won the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League with a record 96 points, finishing 14 points ahead of Al-Nassr. Jesus' side also won the 2023-24 King Cup to complete a domestic treble.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in December 2022, will need to step up if he is to lead his side to victory. He has had an impressive record since making the move to the Saudi Pro League, scoring at a rate of nearly a goal a game. In Al-Nassr colors, he has scored 59 goals in 65 games across all competitions.
With his contract with the Saudi club ending at the end of the 2024-25 season, this may be the last season that football fans from Saudi Arabia watch the 39-year-old great play live.
