'He ends up helping' - Joao Felix reveals how he's outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after making instant impact at Saudi Pro League side

Felix only joined Al-Nassr in the summer transfer window but has already scored two hat-tricks for his new club. His second came at the weekend in an impressive 5-1 win over Al-Fateh. Ronaldo was also on target during the game, smashing home a brilliant strike just minutes after missing a penalty, but it was Felix who took home the match ball and the MVP award after stealing the show. Ronaldo now has five goals in five Saudi Pro League games this season for Al-Nassr, but he's been comfortably outscored by Felix who has eight in what's been a prolific start to life with his new club. 

Felix has now opened up on playing with Ronaldo at club level and does feel the 40-year-old's presence on the pitch helps as defenders often leave him with more space as they are preoccupied by the Portugal icon.

He told Canal GOAT: "Yes, playing with Cristiano... there you go... It's Cristiano. Everyone knows what he's capable of, as we saw. He misses a penalty and the next minute he scores that goal. It's easy to play with him. 

"Sometimes it even ends up being good, because since it's Cristiano, they end up focusing more on him and then leaving the others with a bit more space. He ends up helping the forwards, both me, Mané, and Coman. And yes, playing with him on the pitch is something else.

"I always work to give my best; sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't. Of course, this context is more favorable, because I'm in my position, which brought me into football, which made a bit of my name in the beginning. And the team, the team is doing very well. The manager's ideas are good; they benefit me, my game, the attackers in general. That's why we've been scoring so many goals, and it's partly due to that, the manager's tactics and ideas."

Felix's move to Al-Nassr did attract some criticism, with the 25-year-old forward opting to leave European football after difficult spells with Barcelona, AC Milan and Chelsea. There was was talk that Felix was wanted back at Benfica, but he opted to link up with Ronaldo in the Middle East instead.

Ronaldo feels that his Portugal international team-mate made the right decision to come to Al-Nassr even if it does mean missing out on playing in the Champions League.

"Everyone knows Joao; he's very talented. I think he'll help us a lot in the Saudi league, which is very competitive," he told reporters. "You don't know him; you're not there, you don't show up, but we saw him at the Club World Cup. I think it was a better option for Felix than playing in the Portuguese league; just look at the number of stars there are in Saudi Arabia. Regardless of not playing in the Champions League, it was a very wise decision on his part. Calling him to convince him? I don't do that, I don't pick up the phone. It's not my job. You [journalists] said that, but my job is to train and play."

Ronaldo is famously yet to win a trophy with Al-Nassr but, having signed a two-year contract extension in the summer, will be aiming to put an end to that unwanted record in the current campaign. The team's 5-1 win over Al-Fateh last time out means they lead the way in the Saudi Pro League and sit two points clear of Al Qadsiah after the first five games of the new 2025-26 campaign. Next up for Al-Nassr is an AFC Cup clash against Goa on Wednesday. Ronaldo has not travelled with the team for the match but is expected to return to action in the Saudi Pro League against Al-Hazm on Saturday.