Cristiano Ronaldo has done it again. The Portuguese superstar silenced the pre-match bravado of Al Kholood’s Myziane Maolida, scoring his 19th goal of the season to power Al-Nassr to victory in their latest Saudi Pro League fixture.
Maolida, the in-form hitman for Al Kholood, had warned the legendary forward ahead of their clash, eager to test himself against the very best. The former Ligue 1 attacker has been a revelation in Al Kholood’s debut season in the Saudi Pro League, netting crucial goals that have propelled his side into a mid-table position. But when he faced Ronaldo and Al-Nassr, the night belonged to the 40-year-old Portuguese icon.
And it didn’t take long for Ronaldo to make his mark. Just four minutes into the game, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was at his predatory best, latching onto a loose ball in the box and coolly dispatching his 19th goal of the league campaign.
For all the pre-match talk from Maolida about catching up with Ronaldo in the goal-scoring charts, the Riyadh talisman once again proved why he remains the league’s deadliest forward.
While Ronaldo’s continued dominance in the Middle East is making headlines, Myziane Maolida’s breakthrough season is another compelling story. The French-born forward, formerly of Nice and Hertha Berlin, has been Al Kholood’s talismanic presence in the final third, scoring freely and providing hope for his club’s maiden top-flight season.
His first goal came just two matches into the campaign—a last-minute penalty that sealed a dramatic 3-3 draw against Al-Nassr back in September. That match saw him go toe-to-toe with Cristiano Ronaldo, a moment the 24-year-old savored. Maolida netted twice in that game, warning Ronaldo ahead of the rematch that he planned to continue his hot streak and prove he could compete with the best.
Can Ronaldo be stopped in the Golden Boot race?
Even at 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to set the standard in Saudi soccer. His 19th goal of the season has extended his lead as the league’s top scorer, above Abderrazak Hamdallah, Karim Benzema, and even Ivan Toney.
Despite his warning before the match, Maolida could only watch as Ronaldo ran the show, proving yet again why he remains one of the best to ever play the game. Al-Nassr’s talismanic No. 7 was relentless in front of goal, scoring early in the match and keeping his team in contention for a potential Saudi title.
