Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first goal of the year after converting penalty for Al-Nassr – as Sadio Mane bags a brace to wrap up 3-1 victory for Saudi giants

Cristiano Ronaldo opened his goalscoring account for 2025 from the penalty spot during a 3-1 win for Al-Nassr on Thursday night. 

The veteran forward, 39, and his teammates enjoyed a winter break from the Saudi Pro League, as they look to close ground on league leaders Al Ittihad.

And it only took 42 minutes of his first match after the break for the former Real Madrid and Man United forward to find the back of the net. 

Al Akhdoud took the lead in the sixth minute of the match before Al-Nassr responded through former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane – who would later score again.

After Mane’s equaliser, Al-Nassr were awarded a penalty and Ronaldo stepped up to dispatch of it and give his side the lead on the night. 

The 39-year-old blasted his effort into the top-right corner of the goal before wheeling away in celebration with his teammates. 

The 39-year-old converted from the penalty spot during their clash against Al-Akhdoud

By scoring on the night, it marks the 24th consecutive year that Ronaldo has scored a professional goal – dating all the way back to 2002. 

Ronaldo recently reportedly asked Al-Nassr to sign Casemiro from Manchester United in what could be a critical factor determining his future. 

The Portugal icon is in the last six months of his £175million-per-year contract with the Saudi Pro League side and is considering a move elsewhere.

He and Casemiro won 12 trophies together at Real Madrid, including four Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles, while they also reunited at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag. 

The pair are close friends and the move could be viable considering that United are open to selling the Brazilian and eager to offload his £350,000-a-week wages. 

However, Mail Sport reported last week that fellow Saudi sides Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ittihad are also interested in the 32-year-old midfielder. 

Marca reports that moving to the MLS is a potential option for Ronaldo, who is now 39. Conquering America has been an appealing option for some of the world’s greatest players, including Pele and Lionel Messi. 

Ronaldo’s former team-mate at Old Trafford, Wes Brown, has urged the forward to take the plunge stateside.

The goal marks the 24th consecutive year that Ronaldo has scored a professional goal

Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane found the back of the net twice during the match

‘Cristiano Ronaldo has to go to America, especially given that Lionel Messi is there as well,’ he told The Sports Daily.

‘I’ve seen Ronaldo play a few times and it’s been a good standard, he is scoring goals and looking so fit for his age, still sprinting at 40. He wants to play for as long as he can and he’s a player who can hand pick where he wants to play next.

‘He won’t hang his boots up anytime soon and will keep breaking records. He has been to a few places now and I’d love to see him add America to the list.

‘He has been scoring more goals than Messi of late and it would be great to see them go head-to-head again.’