At 40 years outdated, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to redefine what longevity in soccer means. The Al-Nassr captain as soon as once more proved that age is only a quantity, main his group to a different dramatic victory within the Saudi Professional League. After a tense 2-1 comeback win towards Al-Feiha, Ronaldo’s current accolades have as soon as once more set the soccer world alight.
Following his brace in entrance of the house crowd, Ronaldo disregarded discuss of private glory, as a substitute emphasizing his ambition to steer the group to collective success this season. Regardless of the Knights of Najd’s current King’s Cup exit to Al-Ittihad, the Portuguese ahead stays undeterred. Below Jorge Jesus, Al-Nassr have recorded seven consecutive league victories, and Ronaldo’s expertise continues to be their cornerstone.
Even for a participant who has seen all of it, moments of strain nonetheless check his nerves. In a post-match chat with Thmanyah Sports activities, Ronaldo admitted that he “felt nervous earlier than taking the 104th-minute penalty” that sealed the win over Al-Feiha. “In the present day my coronary heart beat just a little bit quicker than earlier than however that is soccer, that is my life. Twenty-two years of this so I’m joyful,” he stated.
That penalty capped off an exciting evening in Riyadh. Al-Feiha had taken the lead by means of Jason within the thirteenth minute, earlier than Ronaldo’s equalizer — assisted by Kingsley Coman — introduced Al-Nassr degree. The veteran then delivered the decisive strike deep into stoppage time, exhibiting as soon as once more why he stays one of many sport’s final rivals.
The thriller reward revealed
Just a few days after the match, the Saudi Professional League confirmed what many already knew — that Ronaldo’s heroics had not gone unnoticed. The league introduced that the Al-Nassr star had been voted each “Participant of the Week” and “Purpose of the Week” for his efficiency towards Al-Feiha. The double honor got here as additional recognition of his unrelenting influence within the competitors, the place he continues to dominate each statistically and symbolically.
The Portuguese icon has already dedicated his future to the Saudi membership, signing a contract extension that retains him there till 2027. That deal may see him characteristic in yet one more World Cup, a staggering testomony to his enduring excellence.
‘Tougher to attain right here than in Spain’
Ronaldo has by no means shied away from defending the standard of the Saudi Professional League — and he’s doing it once more. In a current sit-down with Piers Morgan, he fired again at critics who’ve downplayed the league’s competitiveness. “Some folks search for excuses – it’s the best manner. Yr after 12 months, I preserve scoring extra. Even in my worst season I scored 25 targets,” he acknowledged.
He went on to insist that the Saudi league deserves much more respect, including: “Those that discuss have by no means been right here, have by no means performed right here. They don’t know what it means to run in 40 levels. And I’m nonetheless going.”
The striker even went so far as to assert that scoring in Saudi Arabia is harder than in Spain, saying: “It’s significantly better than the Portuguese league, even the French league — as a result of in France there’s solely PSG. For me, it was simpler to attain in Spain than within the Saudi Tremendous League.”
