Ronaldo scores in first league game after national team controversy
As Al-Nassr FC won, the Portuguese superstar added his name to the scoresheet. He is still 20 goals short of his 1,000-goal target.
A goal and great fan support: His first league game after his early departure from the Portuguese national football team went perfectly to Cristiano Ronaldo's liking.
The 41-year-old not only scored the opening goal in Al-Nassr FC's 3-0 victory against Al Draih in the Saudi Arabian league.
The star, who had recently been heavily criticized, was also honored before kick-off with a huge fan banner reading "GREATNESS IS EARNED" (Großartigkeit ist verdient).
Only 20 Goals Away from Historic Mark
Perhaps spurred on by this, Ronaldo immediately made an impact, scoring his team's 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. It was a tap-in goal after Kingsley Coman had failed to beat the opposing goalkeeper, who could only parry the ball aside.
Ronaldo celebrated the goal extensively. The striker is determined to be the first ever to break the 1000-goal mark. The Portuguese still needs 20 goals to reach this target.
Ronaldo had generated plenty of headlines during the international break. First, he had left the Portuguese national team camp early after not being played in the 2-1 first leg of the Nations League in Norway.
Following the controversy, the multiple World Player of the Year, who has scored 146 times in 234 international matches, publicly accused coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word. His future with Portugal is uncertain.
