Cristiano Ronaldo stated the undertaking at Al-Nassr was extra attractive than the a number of gives from European golf equipment. The Saudi Skilled League was “very aggressive” and due to this fact tempting as the subsequent step in his profession.

The Portuguese celebrity signed with Al-Nassr on December 30, 2022. Ronaldo has confirmed – publicly and repeatedly – that his major motivation in the course of the fall of his profession was to play on the highest stage. However then, with potential suitors dwindling after his turbulent and disappointing World Cup show, he opted to hitch a membership that averaged greater than 8,000 attendances for the 2021-22 season. Cash talks – and it is particularly loud when the contract is value €200m a yr. Immediately including Ronaldo to his goalscoring document within the Champions League and difficult for different European titles did not matter.

It could be unusual that Ronaldo, 38, is so accustomed to victory that he brings his signature aim celebration and hordes of followers with him to Saudi Arabia. However how has he been doing thus far?

Beneath is a match-by-match evaluation and the general conclusion of Ronaldo’s opening 5 league matches with Al-Nassr, beginning together with his debut in opposition to Al-Ettifaq.

January 22: Al Nasr 1, Al Ettifaq 0

• placeMarsool Park
• Presence: 22862

Al-Nassr supporters, who turned out in droves for Ronaldo’s official unveiling on the membership, needed to be affected person. His league debut was delayed by a suspension stemming from his spell with Manchester United. After they lastly arrived in a 1-0 dwelling win over Al Ettifaq, it was a blended bag. Instantly put in as captain by coach Rudi Garcia, Ronaldo led the road, enjoying alone up entrance in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He appeared at occasions remoted and unable to hyperlink up with the Brazilian attacking midfielder Talisca, the present workforce’s talisman and the highest scorer within the Saudi Skilled League this season. Ronaldo had solely three touches contained in the opponent’s penalty space.

However there have been flashes of encouragement, together with a literal one when he stood up for a free kick within the first half and it appeared as if each fan within the stadium was rapidly whacking their telephones attempting to seize a memorable second. His effort, nonetheless, missed the purpose. Ronaldo twice seemed on aim – an early shot from exterior the realm deflected huge of a nook kick – and almost scored an help for Betty Martinez early within the second half, however was finally unable to attain his debut aim contribution. .

Play the minutes	90
Goals	0
helps	0
shot makes an attempt	3
Pictures on aim	0
Create alternatives	1
The duelists received	1
I attempted passes	27
Go accuracy	85.2%

analysis: 6/10

February 3: Conqueror 2, Victory 2

• placePrince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Sports activities Metropolis Stadium
• Presence: 17,631

Ronaldo was sandwiched between his first match in opposition to Al-Ettifaq and his second league match in opposition to Al-Fateh, and Ronaldo appeared within the Saudi Tremendous Cup, dropping to Al-Ittihad. After that contest, Garcia felt like his gamers have been attempting a bit bit additionally Their new good teammate on the sector is tough to search out. “It is vitally essential that the gamers play usually and never all the time attempt to give the ball to Cristiano,” he stated. to explain, asking them to make the “proper selections” within the last third of the sector. Seems just like the message received via. Al Nasr seemed extra snug with Ronaldo main the workforce, and the veteran striker appeared extra snug in his new environment.

There have been the primary actual glimpses of a thriving partnership with Talisca when, within the twenty fourth minute, Ronaldo tapped in a deft shot from the Brazilian earlier than unleashing a left-footed shot that deflected off the submit and into the web. However, regardless of his protests and insistence that he was on the facet, the flag was raised, and the aim disallowed. Then, simply earlier than the half-time break, he hit a shot from shut vary in opposition to the crossbar when it seemed like it could be simpler to attain. It seemed just like the anticipate his first aim of victory would proceed, however in typical dramatic trend, Ronaldo served up a penalty kick within the 93rd minute to salvage some extent for his workforce. he was working.

Play the minutes	90
Goals	1
helps	0
shot makes an attempt	4
Pictures on aim	1
Create alternatives	2
The duelists received	7
I attempted passes	25
Go accuracy	72%

analysis: 6.5/10

February 9: Unit 0, Victory 4

• placeKing Abdulaziz Sports activities Metropolis Stadium
• Presence: 27102

The penalty kick in opposition to Al-Fateh opened the door huge in a giant method, as Ronaldo adopted up that match together with his dominant efficiency thus far in Saudi Arabia. Simply 4 days after his thirty eighth birthday, Ronaldo scored all 4 objectives – two both facet of the primary half – in Al Nassr’s complete victory in opposition to Al Wahda. The 4 objectives noticed him surpass one other spectacular feat, bringing his profession tally within the dwelling leagues to 503.

For the primary time in a lengthy On the time, Ronaldo seemed like the very best model of himself on the pitch. There was a well-recognized ingredient of subtlety about his first two marks, one with each ft. After scoring one other penalty in his first hat-trick in Saudi Arabia, he capped off a memorable efficiency by displaying off a brisk tempo in his latter tally, one thing that had lengthy been an indicator of his recreation however appeared like abandonment. Throughout his final season at Manchester United and, most noticeably, on the World Cup. Each time the ball hit the again of the web, the gang, in unison, would be a part of Ronaldo in launching his well-known “Sio!” to have fun.

Play the minutes	90
Goals	4
helps	0
shot makes an attempt	9
Pictures on aim	6
Create alternatives	2
The duelists received	3
I attempted passes	31
Go accuracy	80.6%

analysis: 9.5/10

February 17: Victory 2, Al Taawun 1

• placeMarsool Park
• Presence: 22347

Confronted with the hardest problem in his opening 5 matches within the Saudi league – primarily based on the league desk – and doing so with out the suspended Talisca, Ronaldo sidestepped his goalscoring obligations and was supplier, notching up a pair of assists within the 2-1 win that noticed the Reds. It usually drops deeper to make it simpler to play. Ronaldo shared a second together with his former Actual Madrid teammate Alvaro Medran within the tunnel earlier than kick-off, and at one level it appeared as if the Spaniard was going to stroll out of the match after stealing the highlight from his former Madrid counterpart.

And Ronaldo made the opening aim of the match with a defensive cross from inside his workforce’s half, which led to the progress of Abdul Rahman Gharib within the seventeenth minute. Madran equalized with a strong shot from shut vary simply after the top of the primary half, connecting gently with a cross to search out the roof of the web. However Ronaldo had the final chuckle when, whereas standing contained in the six-yard field within the 78th minute, he blocked a shot from teammate Luiz Gustavo – keep in mind him? – appeared to crawl into the underside nook. Luckily, Ronaldo’s save was an ideal exit for the close to miss Abdallah Madou, who reacted faster and fired dwelling. Replays initially confirmed that Ronaldo was in an offside place when Gustavo took his shot and the aim was awarded after a prolonged VAR test.

Play the minutes	90
Goals	0
helps	2
shot makes an attempt	4
Pictures on aim	3
Create alternatives	4
The duelists received	7
I attempted passes	35
Go accuracy	77.1%

analysis: 8/10

February 25: Damac 0, Al Nasr 3

• place: Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports activities Metropolis Stadium
• Presence: 13434

Ronaldo’s efficiency in opposition to Damac made it official: he was on the range. The embellished ahead hit his first hat-trick in three video games, remained flamboyant and led Al Nassr to victory once more. He got here inside inches, actually, of one other four-goal efficiency, however his fourth tally on this competitors was (accurately) counted on a decent offside name. By no means thoughts, the injury had already been achieved earlier than that time; Ronaldo scored all three of his objectives within the first half at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports activities Metropolis Stadium.

Ronaldo was a continuing menace, main the workforce with 9 touches contained in the opposition penalty space and 6 shot makes an attempt. A ferocious penalty kick and finisher from shut vary got here together with his finest aim of the night when he volleyed in together with his left foot from simply exterior the realm, leaving Damac goalkeeper Mustafa Zoghba rooting for the penalty spot.

Play the minutes	90
Goals	3
helps	0
shot makes an attempt	6
Pictures on aim	3
Create alternatives	3
The duelists received	1
I attempted passes	24
Go accuracy	91.7%

analysis: 9/10

How was Ronaldo’s efficiency within the first 5 matches?

First, a crucial disclaimer: Sure, all of this comes with a caveat that, so far as the Saudi Skilled League is worried, the extent of competitors is a step down from what Ronaldo has beforehand skilled. There isn’t a hiding this reality. However, ultimately, all we will do is decide his efficiency at face worth. With eight objectives in 5 league matches – he really Simply 5 shy of topping the league this season – there is no denying Ronaldo took an immediate hit in victory. On a extra fundamental stage, the truth that we’re speaking in regards to the membership and the league in any respect is testomony to his large affect.

Al-Nassr within the Saudi Skilled League 2022-23:

Earlier than Ronaldo	stat	Ronaldo’s debut onwards
11	Matches have been performed	5
25	objectives scored	12
6	Match objectives	3
2.4	factors for every recreation	2.6
the primary	league standing	the primary

Garcia seems to have let it slip that Ronaldo shall be seeking to return to Europe as soon as his contract with Al-Nassr expires in 2025. On that proof, why not?