Ronaldo Debuts for AlNassr in Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his debut in the 2025 season as Al Nassr hosts Al Okhdood in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday, January 9th, with the aim of breaking the 1000 career goal barrier and leading his team to victory.

The highly anticipated match marks Al Nassr's return to competitive action, with Ronaldo seeking to add to his tally of 916 career goals, needing 84 more to achieve the milestone. He finished 2024 with 43 goals, narrowly missing the top spot to Viktor Gyökeres who scored 52. Currently, Ronaldo is tied for second in the Saudi Pro League's top scorer list with 10 goals, trailing Mitrovic by two goals. As the team's captain, Ronaldo is expected to lead by example, and fans are predicting a strong performance, with some even expecting a hat-trick from the 39-year-old.

Al Nassr is currently fourth in the standings, 11 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad, having lost two of their last three games. Coach Stefano Pioli is planning to make significant changes to the team's formation due to the absence of key players, including Talisca, Brozovic, and Abdullah Al-Khaibari. The expected starting lineup includes Pinto as goalkeeper, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Aymeric Laporte, Nawal Bushel, and Mohamed Simakan in defense, Ali Al-Hassan, Otavio, and Abdul Majeed Al-Saliham in midfield, and Sadio Mane, Angelo Gabriel, and Cristiano Ronaldo in the attacking line.

With the match set to take place at Al-Awal Park Stadium, all eyes will be on Ronaldo as he makes his 2025 season debut, seeking to inspire his team to victory and move closer to his goal of reaching 1000 career goals. A win is crucial for Al Nassr to stay in contention for the league title, and Ronaldo's performance will be closely watched by fans and critics alike.

Ronaldo's debut with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League is highly anticipated, with the team seeking to bounce back from recent losses and close the gap with leaders Al-Ittihad. The 39-year-old's pursuit of 1000 career goals and his expected strong performance will be key factors in the match against Al Okhdood.