Cristiano Ronaldo's brace saw Al-Nassr defeat Al-Najma 5-2 and move six points clear at the Saudi Pro League summit.
2025/2026 Saudi Professional League
5-2
Match Report
Making his 100th appearance in the competition, Ronaldo scored twice in the second half to help Al-Nassr create some breathing room between themselves and Al-Hilal, who face Al-Taawon on Saturday.
Al-Nassr controlled the first half but were stunned in the 44th minute. Felippe Cardoso showed great skill and strength to hold up the ball on the counter before putting it on a plate for Rakan Al Tulayhi to smash in from the edge of the box.
Nevertheless, Al-Nassr were ahead by half-time. Abdullah Al Hamddan levelled for the hosts after Abdulelah Al Amri flicked on Marcelo Brozovic's cross to the back post before Sadio Mane dribbled past three players and fired into the top-right corner in the ninth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Cardoso restored parity early in the second half after curling in from David Tijanic's cut back, though Ronaldo put Al-Nassr back in front from the penalty spot after Abdullah Al Hawsawi was penalised for handball.
Ronaldo then doubled his tally in the 73rd minute as he took a touch from Nawaf Bu Washl's low centre before scoring, and though it was initially ruled out for offside, a VAR check eventually awarded Al-Nassr their fourth of the match.
Mane scored a second of his own in the 95th minute, tapping in from Salem Al Najdi's cross to wrap up a routine victory for Jorge Jesus' side.
Elsewhere, 10-man Al-Ittihad beat Al-Hazem 1-0. Abdulrahman Al Oboud was the matchwinner in the second half after Moussa Diaby was shown a red card after 34 minutes for the home side.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo marks Pro League century in style
It was a deserved victory for Al-Nassr, who produced 3.97 expected goals (xG) from 24 shots to Al-Najma's 0.8 from six attempts at Al-Awwal Park.
Ronaldo was responsible for 1.68 of Al-Nassr's xG, as the Portugal international showed no signs of fatigue following his return from injury. He recorded the most shots (eight) and had a match-high four big chances.
The 41-year-old has scored 97 goals in 100 Pro League games, 39 more than his closest competitor in that time, Abderrazzaq Hamed-Allah (58).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
6' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
14' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
18' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
29' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
31' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
41' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
44' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 0-1 Al Najma(KSA) (Rakan Al-Tulayhi)
47' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 2-2 Al Najma(KSA) (Felippe Cardoso)
48' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
53' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 1-1 Al Najma(KSA) (Abdullah Al-Hamdan)
55' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 2-1 Al Najma(KSA)
56' Penalty Goal! Al Nassr FC 3-2 Al Najma(KSA) (Cristiano Ronaldo)
71' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
74' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 4-2 Al Najma(KSA)
86' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Najma(KSA)
95' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 5-2 Al Najma(KSA)
Line-ups
Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Brozovic, Mane, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Mohamed Simakan, Bento, Ângelo, Saad Al-Nasser
Subs: Abdullah Alkhaibari, Ali Al-Hassan, Nader Al-Sharari, Nawaf Boushal, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Mohammed Marran, Salem Al Najdi, Hayder Abdulkareem, Rakan Al-Ghamdi
Al Najma(KSA) XI: Victor Braga, Samir, David Tijanic, Abdullah Al-Hawsawi, Nabil Dunga, Felippe Cardoso, Mohammed Al-Aqel, Rakan Al-Tulayhi, Nasser Al-Haleel, Majed Dawran, Vitor Vargas
Subs: Mohammed Al-Fatil, Guga, Walid Al-Enezi, Abdulaziz Al-Harabi, Hisham Al-Dubais, Khalid Al-Subaie, Mohammed Mansour, Sultan Al-Essa, Majed Mohammed Sharrahi