Ronaldo magic ends Al-Nassr's winless run against Firmino & Co

Cristiano Ronaldo helped Al-Nassr break their winless streak by scoring a penalty as they narrowly defeated Al-Ahli, led by Roberto Firmino, in a Saudi Pro League clash.

There was no shortage of star power as several familiar European names clashed for three points, with former Liverpool star Firmino, Frank Kessie, and Riyadh Mahrez featuring for Al-Ahli against a star-studded Al-Nassr side led by their Portuguese talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, both teams adopted a cautious approach in the first half, leading to a lackluster display until the final 10 minutes. Ronaldo, facing a resilient Al-Ahli defense, had few opportunities in front of goal. The hosts had the first clear chance as Merih Demiral's header hit the crossbar from a Mahrez corner. Despite Ronaldo finding the net later in the half, VAR disallowed the goal for offside.

The second half saw increased intensity after halftime talks. More spaces opened up in midfield, and Firmino appeared to score after a setup from Allan Saint-Maximin, only for VAR to deny the goal. With both teams pressing harder in the final 30 minutes, a penalty awarded for a reckless challenge by Roger Ibanez on Sami Al-Najei allowed Ronaldo to break the deadlock from the spot with a well-placed effort. Despite Firmino's side pushing for an equalizer in the closing stages, Al-Nassr's resilient defense held firm, securing a much-needed victory and ending their winless streak.

Ronaldo with the MOTM award

Ronaldo once again proved to be the decisive factor, showcasing moments of brilliance that ultimately secured the three points for his team. Although VAR denied him an earlier goal, he remained clinical from the spot, allowing his team to narrow the gap to nine points behind league leaders Al-Hilal, who still have a game in hand.

What next for Ronaldo?

Following his club duties, Ronaldo will travel to Lisbon to join his Portugal teammates for upcoming international fixtures. Portugal is scheduled to play friendly matches against Sweden and Slovenia on March 21 and 26, respectively. The 39-year-old aims to increase his record international goal count during these matches. After completing his national team obligations, Ronaldo will return to Riyadh to face Al-Tai on March 30.