Al Nassr fans had plenty to cheer about on Friday night as their team, led by the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo, stormed to a 5-2 win over Al Najma in the 27th round of the Saudi Pro League. The victory, played at Al Awwal Park, not only cemented Al Nassr’s position at the top of the league with 70 points but also marked a triumphant return for Ronaldo after a month-long absence due to injury.
Heading into the match, the stakes were clear: Al Nassr, sitting atop the table, needed a convincing performance to extend their lead over second-placed Al Hilal, who were scheduled to play the following day. Their opponents, Al Najma, were languishing at the bottom of the standings with just one win in 26 matches, making them heavy underdogs against the league leaders. Yet, football is never short of surprises, and for a moment, it looked like Al Najma might cause an upset.
All eyes were on Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar had been sidelined since February 28 after suffering a hamstring injury in a league clash against Al Fayha. During his recovery, Ronaldo undertook a specialized rehabilitation program in Madrid, missing not only two key league matches for Al Nassr but also Portugal’s friendlies against Mexico and the United States. Manager Jorge Jesus, who had initially described the injury as “more serious than expected,” provided a positive update ahead of the match, confirming Ronaldo’s return to group training and his readiness to feature.
“It’s good to be back,” Ronaldo posted on Instagram following the match. “We move forward together!”
With anticipation building, Al Nassr’s starting lineup was confirmed: Bento; Sultan, Simakan, Al Amri, Saad; Brozovic, Angelo, Ghareeb; Mane, Alhamdan, and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo wearing the captain’s armband. Sadio Mane, who had also been sidelined with an ankle injury, was declared fit, giving manager Jorge Jesus a full-strength attacking lineup for the first time in weeks.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Despite Al Nassr’s dominance on paper, it was Al Najma who struck first. Rakan Rajeh Altulayhi silenced the home crowd with a 44th-minute goal, giving the visitors a shock lead. However, the response from Al Nassr was immediate and emphatic. In first-half stoppage time, Abdullah Al Hamdan leveled the score in the 45+8 minute, and just a minute later, Sadio Mane put Al Nassr ahead with a poacher’s finish at 45+9. The first half ended with Al Nassr holding a narrow 2-1 advantage, but the drama was far from over.
After the break, Al Najma refused to roll over. Filipe Cardoso found the net in the 47th minute, bringing the score to 2-2 and raising eyebrows across the stadium. But that was as close as the visitors would get to causing an upset. The stage was set for Ronaldo’s heroics.
In the 56th minute, with the match hanging in the balance, Ronaldo stepped up for a penalty after a handball was confirmed by VAR. He made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Victor Braga to restore Al Nassr’s lead. It was a moment of pure relief and jubilation for the home fans, and a clear sign that Ronaldo was back to his best.
But the Portuguese legend wasn’t finished. In the 73rd minute, Ronaldo struck again, this time with a powerful right-footed shot that left Braga with no chance. The chance was created by a clever pass from Sadio Mane, and Ronaldo’s finish was clinical—evidence of the sharpness he had regained during his rehabilitation. Just minutes later, Mane capped off a brilliant night for himself and his team, scoring his second goal in stoppage time (90+5) to seal the 5-2 victory.
“Cristiano Ronaldo returned to play on April 3, 2026, after more than a month out with a hamstring injury,” reported World Soccer Talk. “In the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Najma on April 3, 2026, Ronaldo scored two goals in less than 75 minutes.”
The win was crucial for Al Nassr, who now sit six points clear of Al Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings. With 70 points, Al Nassr’s lead could be cut to three points if Al Hilal win their match against Al Taawoun on Saturday, but for now, the momentum is firmly with Ronaldo and his teammates.
For Ronaldo, the night was about more than just three points. His brace took his tally to 10 goals for Al Nassr in 2026 and 967 goals in his professional career—just 33 shy of the mythical 1,000-goal mark. The 41-year-old remains third in the league’s golden boot race, trailing Ivan Toney (25 goals) and Julian Quinones (24), but with seven matches left, the race is far from decided.
“Ronaldo now has 967 career goals as he continues to chase becoming the first player in history to reach 1,000,” ESPN noted, underscoring the historical significance of his ongoing quest.
Al Nassr’s attacking options look stronger than ever with both Ronaldo and Mane back to full fitness. The team’s ability to respond to adversity—coming from behind twice in the match—speaks volumes about their championship mentality. Manager Jorge Jesus will be delighted not only by the result but by the resilience and attacking flair his side displayed.
As for Al Najma, the defeat leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table, with relegation looming ever larger. Their spirited performance in the first half was not enough to contain one of the most potent attacking units in the league, especially with Ronaldo firing on all cylinders.
Looking ahead, Al Nassr will face Al Akhdoud away from home next weekend, with their sights set on maintaining their lead and pushing for their first major title since Ronaldo’s arrival in December 2022. Al Hilal, meanwhile, will be hoping to keep the pressure on as the title race heats up.
Friday’s match will be remembered as the night Cristiano Ronaldo returned with a bang, reminding everyone that even at 41, he remains one of football’s most decisive and relentless goal scorers. With history firmly in his sights and the Saudi Pro League title within reach, Ronaldo’s story is far from over.