Cristiano Ronaldo reaffirmed his deep bond with Saudi Arabia by draping himself in the national scarf following Al-Nassr's 3-1 AFC Champions League Elite triumph over Neftchi Fergana. The 41-year-old struck his 981st career goal in Riyadh on Monday night, with his emotional tributes taking centre stage after security concerns delayed kick-off by an hour.
Cristiano Ronaldo moved closer to 1,000 career goals by scoring for Al Nassr in their 3-1 AFC Champions League Elite victory against FK Neftchi. The forward put his recent suspension by the Portuguese Football Federation behind him to net the second goal, in a match that was delayed by a tense one-hour security alert in Riyadh following a ballistic missile interception.
Former Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has offered a remarkably candid explanation for his summer move to Saudi Arabia, admitting that the lure of life-changing money was the primary factor. The Netherlands international swapped the Etihad Stadium for Al-Qadsiah in a £52 million deal just one season after arriving in the Premier League from AC Milan.
Ange Postecoglou launched a fierce defence of Cristiano Ronaldo after Al-Nassr suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat to Al Ain in the AFC Champions League Elite. The manager clashed with a reporter during his post-match press conference, taking full responsibility for the result while demanding respect for his captain.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a night to forget in the United Arab Emirates as Al-Nassr were dismantled 4-0 by Al-Ain in a shocking AFC Champions League Elite display. The Portuguese forward, who is chasing his 980th career goal, could only watch as his side were systematically picked apart by the two-times Asian champions.
Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for his final shot at Asian glory in the AFC Champions League Elite with Al-Nassr. Manager Ange Postecoglou is set to manage the Portuguese superstar's workload, while winger Kingsley Coman could make a timely injury return.
The stage is set for what could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final opportunity to conquer Asia as the Asian Champions League prepares to kick off next week. With the Saudi Pro League having invested billions to transform the regional landscape, Al-Nassr and their domestic rivals are determined to keep the continent's most prestigious trophy in Riyadh or Jeddah.
Ivan Toney has added another prestigious piece of silverware to his collection as Al-Ahli successfully defended their AFC Champions League Elite crown. The Saudi giants overcame Japanese debutants Machida Zelvia in a gruelling, ill-tempered final that required extra time to find a winner. The match was defined by its physical nature and disciplinary issues, as the Saudi side played with ten men for nearly an hour.
