Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

Ronaldo winning first match in Saudi League

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Jan 2023 23:30
3 Min Read

Ronaldo's league debut felt underwhelming in front of 22,862 spectators after he scored twice in this week's entertaining 5-4 exhibition loss to Paris Saint-Germain of Lionel Messi.

  • x
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo, centre, jumps for the ball against Al Ettifaq's players during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq at Mrsool Park Stadium, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023 (AP Photo)
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo, centre, jumps for the ball against Al Ettifaq's players during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq at Mrsool Park Stadium, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023 (AP Photo)

As the highest-paid footballer in history, Cristiano Ronaldo guided Al Nassr to a 1-0 victory over Ettifaq on Sunday, giving him a winning start to life in the Saudi Pro League.

Despite the Portuguese superstar's goalless performance, Al Nassr saw encouraging signals as they eyed local and continental honors after the 37-year-old moved for agreements worth more than 400 million euros.

However, Ronaldo's league debut felt underwhelming in front of 22,862 spectators after he scored twice in this week's entertaining 5-4 exhibition loss to Paris Saint-Germain of Lionel Messi.

Read More: Saudi businessman pays $2.6m to watch Ronaldo v. Messi game in KSA

"He's one of the best players in the history of football, so it's very important for us to do everything possible to put him in the best condition," said Al Nassr coach Rudi Garcia.

"I want him to enjoy playing and tonight he was happy to play for the first time with his new team."

Related News

Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr to historic Arab Club Champions victory

Ronaldo Set to Become the Highest-Paid Footballer

As captain for Al Nassr, Ronaldo had a quiet first half and twice tried trickery cost him the ball as his teammates struggled to get it to him.

Ronaldo nearly connected with Abdulmajeed Al Sulaiheem's cross that Anderson Talisca headed in for the game's lone goal on 31 minutes after Ronaldo's early attempt from the edge of the box was deflected over.

Read next: Saudi Arabia set to bend marriage laws for Cristiano Ronaldo

Soon after, Ronaldo blasted over a free kick from a prime location just outside the penalty area while being greeted with cries of "Siu!" whenever he touched the ball.

After a few of his signature stepovers, Ronaldo set up Pity Martinez and Talisca for successive near calls as Al Nassr's front three started to gel in the second half.

After dribbling into the box, Ronaldo attempted a shot from an almost impossible angle after swinging and missing with a bicycle kick to indicate he was getting comfortable with the task.

In a victory that kept Al Nassr atop the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo was unable to score in front of his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez.

This comes after Ronaldo joined Saudi football club Al-Nassr earlier, agreeing to a £175 million per year contract. He left the Manchester United club after an interview with Piers Morgan that saw him criticize the club, Erik ten Hag, and the Glazers.

  • Ronaldo
  • Cristiano Ronaldo
  • al-nasr
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS