Al Nassr were set to face Japanese side Yokohama FM at the Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium for the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League. Looking to secure his first trophy in Saudi Arabia, team star Cristiano Ronaldo scored the third goal of the match to help put one foot in the semifinal.
The Saudi Arabian side dominated from the opening whistle, building a strong advantage with multiple scoring opportunities. The breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Jhon Durán pounced on a rebound inside the penalty area. Just four minutes later, Sadio Mané doubled the lead, finishing off a swift counterattack with a precise strike to the near post.
In the 38th minute, Marcelo Brozovic unleashed a shot after a brilliant collective play. Goalkeeper Park Il-Kyu made the initial save, but the rebound fell straight to Ronaldo, who stayed onside and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0 for Al Nassr.
After scoring, Ronaldo celebrated in a way that took fans back to his Real Madrid days. He ran toward the advertising boards and sat on them, mirroring the iconic celebration he performed during the 2017 UEFA Champions League semifinal against Atlético Madrid, where he scored a hat-trick.
Currently third in the Saudi Pro League and trailing leaders Al Ittihad by eight points, Ronaldo’s chances of capturing the league title have diminished. As a result, the AFC Champions League has become one of the last major opportunities for Ronaldo to secure silverware with Al Nassr in the 2024–25 season.
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Ronaldo closing in on the 1,000-goal milestone
Despite the team’s challenges, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to shine individually in Saudi Arabia. His goal against Yokohama extended his season tally to 33 goals in 37 appearances for Al Nassr, moving him closer to the historic 1,000-goal mark.
Ronaldo now sits at 934 official career goals, leaving him just 66 away from the epic milestone. With reports suggesting he is set to sign a new two-year contract with Al Nassr — and continuing to play an important role for Portugal’s national team — reaching 1,000 goals remains within his grasp if he maintains his impressive scoring rate.
