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Ronaldo honoured, Mane and Martinez strike in Al Nassr win

A match that began with Cristiano Ronaldo recognised for another formidable feat in the Roshn Saudi League concluded with Al Nassr maintaining their 100 percent start to the season.

On Sunday night, the hosts dispatched Al Kholood 2-0 at an atmospheric Al Awwal Park, the win sealed by a summer signing and a club stalwart.

Before all that, Ronaldo was presented pre-match with the 2024-25 golden boot. It honoured the Al Nassr captain’s phenomenal contribution across the last campaign, in which he scored 25 goals to once more finish the division’s top scorer.

After he received the trophy, posed for pictures and smiled for the cameras, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner took his place back on the pitch. From there, and although he wasn’t at his brilliant best, Ronaldo helped guide Al Nassr to victory.

However, it took Jorge Jesus’ side a while to break the deadlock, the opener arriving seven minutes into the second half from the boot of Sadio Mane.

The Senegalese forward, who spoke to the Saudi Pro League about Al Nassr’s lofty targets this season, exchanged a one-two with recent recruit Kingsley Coman before slotting past Juan Pablo Cozzani in the Al Kholood goal.

Not long after, Coman really should’ve added to his goal on RSL debut in Matchweek 1, but somehow sent his close-range rebound off target.

Al Nassr did eventually double their lead, though. With nine minutes remaining, former Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez rose highest to head home Marcelo Brozovic’s corner. Having joined the Riyadh club last month, it represented the Spaniard’s first goal in yellow and blue.

Martinez was then guaranteed a second successive clean sheet in dramatic fashion when, in the final minute of normal time, goalkeeper Raghid Najjar saved Myziane Malioda’s penalty.

Third last season, Al Nassr had win No.2 from two to begin what they hope will be a sustained tilt at the title this term.

Elsewhere on Sunday, NEOM Sports Club made history with their first RSL victory, the newly promoted club triumphing 2-1 at Damac thanks to Alexandre Lacazette’s 83rd-minute penalty – the former Arsenal striker’s second goal of the night.

Back in the capital, in the day’s earlier kick-off, Al Riyadh defeated new boys Al Najmah also 2-1, although their night ended on a sour note when Iraq international Ibrahim Bayesh was sent off in stoppage-time.