Featured Image Credit: SSC via Twitter
Topics: Football, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr
Chris Byfield
Cristiano Ronaldo netted a stunning goal to put Al Nassr ahead against Raja in the Arab Club Champions Cup quarterfinals.
At half-time Al Nassr have claimed a 3-1 lead over Moroccan side Raja, with the Saudi outfit on the cusp of qualifying for the semi-final of the Arab Club Champions Cup, a competition contested by top division clubs from Africa and the Middle East.
And Ronaldo has gave his side the lead after 22 mins in emphatic style.
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Anderson Talisca picked up the ball on the right flank, weaved towards the corner and found Ronaldo on the edge of the box.
The five-time Ballon d'Or went on to rifle a shot into the bottom corner with his left-foot to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League outfit back in January and since some of Europe's most recognisable stars have moved to the Gulf nation.
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The likes of Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Neves having all joined sides in the division this summer, while the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah have also attracted interest.
Indeed, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took over four of the country’s top teams - Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli - while the other 14 top-flight clubs have the riches to attract Europe's elite.
Indeed, Ronaldo has talked up the standard of the Saudi Pro League. When asked about making a move to the U.S. like his former rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo said in July via ESPN: "The Saudi league is better than MLS. I opened the way to the Saudi league, and now all the players are coming here.
"In one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi. In a year the Saudi league will overtake the Turkish league and Dutch league.”