Ronaldo overhead stunner caps fan-filled record night for Al Nassr

There was a record home attendance, another goal for Roshn Saudi League dazzling debutant Joao Felix, and a sublime effort from Sadio Mane.

Al Nassr were about to register a ninth consecutive RSL victory, their 2025-26 résumé perfect throughout the opening nine rounds of the campaign. Al Khaleej, those potentially tricky travellers to the capital, were all but beaten, 3-1 down deep into injury-time.

Then Cristiano Ronaldo treated the historic Al Awwal Park crowd to something only Cristiano Ronaldo can.

On 96 minutes, the Al Nassr captain eyed up Nawaf Boushal’s cross deep into the Al Khaleej penalty area, somehow contorted his 40-year-old frame and, from around 14 yards out, leapt into the air and sent an incredible overhead kick cannoning into the net.

Felix, who climbed to 11 goals to head the race for Ronaldo’s golden boot, was soon voted Man of the Match. But his illustrious compatriot? As is so often the case: Man of the Moment.

The 2024-25 RSL Goal of the Season winner, the competition’s lead scorer in the past two campaigns, could well just be keeping that mantle, too.

“Best caption wins,” Ronaldo posted on X in the aftermath, alongside the video of the goal seen around the world.

How about, simply, “GOAT”?

“Today Cris' goal is a spectacular goal... it is not that he has not scored similar goals in his career,” Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus said. “So, this is normal for him, as he scored goals since he was young.”

Jesus, as much as he might, preferred instead to focus on the collective on a night of real celebration for Al Nassr.

“All of us, the Al Nassr team, have a way of thinking that the most important thing is the team,” the 2023-24 RSL winner said. “Not the coach, not the player. And only with this way of thinking is that we have played at this high level.”

High level is right. With 27 points from 27 - they are only the second side in the Saudi Pro League era to do that - Al Nassr lead the RSL by four points going into this next international break.

Statistically, they boast the best attack, their 30 goals scored six better than the next best, both second-placed Al Hilal and, in third, Al Taawoun.

Meanwhile, Al Nassr's defence has conceded the fewest thus far, with only five goals in the “against” column. Of course, there is a long way to go and plenty of twists and turns surely to come, but Jesus’ side possess all the ingredients to land a first RSL title since 2018.

And, judging by the 26,000-plus in attendance on Sunday, the supporters are all in.

“Today I want to congratulate the fans of Al Nassr,” Jesus said. “This team deserves to have a stadium like today, full of fans. And that's why the players also feel more affectionate and the team's display was of great quality. 

“Five goals… five spectacular goals: four from Al Nassr and one from our rival, also a beautiful goal. As I thought before the game, when I prepared this game, Al Khaleej are a good team.

“I was not mistaken; our opponent are a team with players with a lot of quality, so congratulations to the Al Nassr players, congratulations to the fans. We want all the games here at home to have this beautiful atmosphere.”