The 41-year-old captain opened the scoring in the first half, registering his 980th career goal for club and country, according to reports. Samu Costa and Kingsley Coman also found the net as Al-Nassr secured a comfortable victory.
The result moved Al-Nassr level on points with league leaders Al-Qadsiah, with goal difference separating the sides after eight rounds.
Ronaldo strikes on his return
Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute after Kingsley Coman’s effort from outside the penalty area was saved by Diriyah goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah. The Portuguese forward reacted quickest to the rebound and finished from close range.
The goal marked Ronaldo’s return to club action after a turbulent international break, during which he left Portugal’s training camp following a disagreement over his expected playing time.
His goal also kept him moving towards the landmark of 1,000 career goals.
Costa and Coman complete the victory
Al-Nassr extended their advantage shortly before half-time when Samu Costa scored the second goal.
Coman then added the third with 13 minutes remaining to confirm a convincing win for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
The clean sheet and three-goal margin gave Al-Nassr an important boost as they continued their push towards the top of the Saudi Pro League table.
What happened between Ronaldo and Portugal?
Ronaldo’s return to the headlines followed his departure from Portugal’s camp amid a disagreement with national team coach Jorge Jesus over an earlier understanding about his involvement in the Nations League matches.
In a statement published earlier in the week, Ronaldo said the coach had broken his word regarding the arrangement. Jesus disputed Ronaldo’s account, leaving the disagreement unresolved publicly.
Ronaldo also acknowledged that his decision to leave camp could carry consequences, while making clear that he remained available to represent Portugal.
His goal for Al-Nassr does not settle the dispute, but it puts the focus back on his performances as speculation continues over his international future.
Al-Nassr keep pressure on the leaders
The 3-0 win strengthened Al-Nassr’s position near the top of the Saudi Pro League standings. They were level on points with Al-Qadsiah after the eighth round, with goal difference determining the order.
For Ronaldo, the immediate priority will be maintaining his scoring form and helping Al-Nassr sustain their title challenge while the situation with Portugal remains under scrutiny.