Ronaldo Scores on Return as Al Nassr Crush Al Riyadh 4-0 to Claim Top Spot

Al Nassr maintained their perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season with a commanding 4-0 victory over city rivals Al Riyadh on Friday night, a match highlighted by Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic return to domestic action.

The visitors dominated the Riyadh derby from the onset, breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute when defender Abdulelah Al-Amri rose highest to head home. Just before the interval, Brazilian forward Ângelo Gabriel doubled the advantage, reacting quickest in first-half stoppage time to poke the ball home.

Al Nassr’s summer signing João Félix added a third in the 58th minute, putting the game well out of reach. The defining moment, however, arrived late in the second half. Making his first appearance since the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo came off the bench and calmly slotted home a low cross from Ayman Yahya in the 83rd minute to complete the rout.

The strike marked Ronaldo's 977th career goal and ensured he has now scored in 25 consecutive professional seasons, breaking Zlatan Ibrahimović's previous football record. The victory lifts Ange Postecoglou's side to the top of the league table on goal difference.