Cristiano Ronaldo Marks 1,200th Career Game By Scoring One Goal And Assisting Another To Help Al Nassr Record Big Win In Riyadh Derby
Cristiano Ronaldo produced a dominant performance in the 1,200th game of his professional career to lead Al Nassr to a 4-1 win in a local derby on Friday.
Ronaldo scored one goal and assisted another for Otavio as Al Nassr thrashed Al-Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League.
Talisca netted twice for Al Nassr. Former Burnley and Watford forward Andre Gray scored a consolation goal for Al-Riyadh.
Ronaldo's goal came in the 31st minute when he volleyed home a cross from Sadio Mane.
This was the 38-year-old's 30th goal of the season, including five for Portugal.
He had not scored 25 club goals in one season since the 2020/21 campaign when he was playing for Juventus.
Of Ronaldo's 25 club strikes this season, 16 have come in the Saudi Pro League, with the other nine coming in the AFC Champions League and the Arab Club Champions Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 30th goal of the 2023/24 season 31 minutes into his 32nd game of the campaign
IMAGO/ZUMA Wire/Joaquin Corchero
After scoring Al Nassr's opener against Al-Riyadh, Ronaldo assisted fellow Portugal international Otavio to make it 2-0 just before half-time.
Ronaldo's chipped cross towards the penalty spot was diverted into the net by Otavio's brilliant diving header.
Mane claimed his second assist of the game midway through the second half when he dribbled past Khalid Bin Shuwayyi before teeing up Talisca.
Al Nassr were then caught cold as Al-Riyadh's goal came just 110 seconds after Talisca had made it 3-0.
But Talisca had the final word when he completed the scoring with a close-range header in added time.
Despite Al Nassr's victory, Ronaldo and Co remain seven points behind league leaders Al-Hilal, who beat Al-Tai 2-1 on Friday.