Cristiano Ronaldo marks 100th Saudi Pro League appearance with brace on injury return as Al Nassr sink Al Najma - ‘It’s good to be back’
Published 04/04/2026 at 11:33 GMT+1
React to this story
On his 100th Saudi Pro League appearance, Cristiano Ronaldo returned from a month-long injury in style. The 41-year-old had missed his side's last two league games, as well as Portugal's friendlies against Mexico and the United States, due to a hamstring injury, but netted twice in Al Nassr's 5-2 win over Al Najma. The victory extended Al Nassr’s lead at the top of the table to six points.
Martinez thrilled with 'leadership group' in Ronaldo absence as Portugal secure World Cup place
Video credit: SNTV
Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return from a month-long injury absence by netting twice in Al Nassr’s 5-2 victory over Al Najma.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored his 22nd and 23rd league goals of the season against the Saudi Pro League’s bottom side.
Ronaldo picked up a hamstring injury in late February that kept him out of two league games as well as Portugal’s friendlies against Mexico and the United States.
After Friday's victory, which marked Ronaldo’s 100th league encounter for Al Nassr, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star said on X: ”It’s good to be back… We’ll move forward together.”
First-half strikes from Sadio Mane and Abdullah Al Hamdan overturned Al Najma’s early lead to give Al Nassr a 2-1 half-time advantage.
The visitors, who have won just once in 27 league games this term, equalised before Ronaldo restored the lead with a 56th-minute penalty and then made it 4-2 with another in the 73rd minute. Mane then struck a fifth in injury time to complete the rout.
Al Nassr are on a run of 13 consecutive wins, with the latest extending their lead at the Saudi Pro League summit to six points, with second-placed Al Hilal playing Al Taawoun on Saturday.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/20/image-0e80198b-bfde-4743-9104-cd87adceda8c-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
‘He was a pioneer’ – Madueke on inspiration from Ronaldo’s spell at Man Utd
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronaldo’s World Cup prospects
Ronaldo, who missed Portugal’s victory over the United States on Tuesday, is looking to go to the World Cup for a record sixth and likely final time this summer.
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez confirmed that should the 41-year-old’s injury not flare up ahead of the tournament, which is being held in Canada, the United States and Mexico, then he will be in his nation’s 26-man squad.
Martinez said: "Cristiano is our captain, a role model and a player with a real hunger. He's not just a 41-year-old player; he's a player who's hungry to improve every day.
”He's proving to be an exemplary captain and an inspiration to the younger players, someone who shows the way and embodies our values. And on the pitch, he's scored 25 goals in the last 30 games.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/04/image-4dead558-3ca9-4a9e-8431-c2f34cdf8853.jpeg)
Ronaldo is set to go to his sixth World Cup this summer
Image credit: Getty Images
”We assess the players on a day-to-day basis, session by session, and the standards in the national team are the highest for everyone."
Addressing the captain's longevity, Martinez added: "He has a minor injury and will probably be back playing and training next week. It's nothing serious.
"Cristiano is our captain; he's a very important player. He was our captain in the Nations League and plays a huge part in the team's final third, that movement in the box."
Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement