Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite meeting with FC Neftchi Fergana was held up for an hour in Riyadh after an aerial missile alert, with explosions reported across the city. Yemen-based Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles targeting the Saudi capital, and Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted and destroyed the incoming projectiles. The fixture went ahead once authorities confirmed the danger had passed.
When the football did start, Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr’s second goal in the 42nd minute, taking his career tally to 981 goals. Despite the security concerns surrounding the match, the home side kept their composure and completed a 3-1 victory to claim three points in the continental competition.
It was after the win that the night’s focus shifted from the result to Ronaldo’s relationship with Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese forward waved a scarf featuring the Saudi flag on the pitch, a gesture given added significance by the regional tension of the preceding hours. He also kissed the crest on his shirt before leading the home crowd in a post-match Viking clap.
The celebrations offered Ronaldo another chance to acknowledge supporters who have backed him since his move to Saudi Arabia, a country he has repeatedly been linked with on a personal level. There has also been speculation that he could end his playing career there, though his future remains a matter of conjecture rather than anything settled.
For now, the scarf, the goal and the victory placed his bond with Saudi Arabia at the centre of Al-Nassr’s night in Riyadh.