Video: Cristiano Ronaldo scores the 961st goal of his career to give Al Nassr the lead vs Al Kholood

Cristiano Ronaldo converted the 961st goal of his career on Friday, handing Al Nassr the lead during their Matchday 18 encounter. With this result currently standing, the Riyadh-based side moves into second place in the table, pulling within three points of league-leading Al Hilal.

After relentless attacking pressure to break the deadlock, Al Nassr finally found their breakthrough. A clinical Portuguese connection saw Joao Felix find Cristiano Ronaldo, who tapped the ball home to give his side the partial victory.

This Matchday 18 fixture is paramount for Al Nassr, who are determined to keep pace with Al Hilal; a victory would pull them within just three points of the league leaders.

Adding further security to the result, Mohamed Simakan extended the lead just six minutes later, connecting with a powerful header from a corner kick to make it 2-0 for Al Nassr.

Developing story*

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, with a specialization in soccer, the NBA, and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, where he first established himself as a writer. Throughout his career, Gianni has covered major sports events such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open. His ability to report on real-time events and perform well under pressure has made him a valuable member of a top-tier team of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, where he now covers a wide range of sports, including European soccer, MLS, and the NBA.