There are moments of joy and reverie and endless celebration that do spring to life in great games of football that command so many headlines and for the best possible reasons. The same is happening to a certain Al-Nassr Football club, which currently seems like the heartbeat of the entirety of the Saudi Arabian football world. And the main man that’s brought forth boundless joy and a fresh lease of life of sorts is a certain Christiano Ronaldo. It’s a name that is making news in all of Saudi Arabia. It’s a name that needs no introduction. Rather, even those young minds or lives who may not be too aware about who the great sportsman is and what his talent is, will too be inclined to know about the iconic Portuguese legend!  

What matters at this point of time is that Christiano Ronaldo has brought about a big bright change in the world of Saudi football. It, needless to say, has been a journey that was littered with many an un comfortable question. And that was- when would he be able to make things great for the famous Al Nassr football club; his association with the noted professional club being a headlining act since the past few years. While he was able to score goals regularly and the scorecards always seemed bright, the major title was nowhere to be found. Wasn’t it? But all that Al Nassr truly wanted all this while- changed Thursday night. Which, if you think about it, was a matter of few hours back! In an incredible 4-1 win over Damac, Ronaldo, the very man who wasn’t able to strike big for Al Nassr made the club win in the Saudi Pro League. What had not, therefore, transpired in the last three years, finally came true. And eventually, the 41-year-old finally left the football pitch as an emotionally moved albeit successful soul who brought sheer joy and delight to legions of fans.

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The win was more than some statistical moment; hence, fair to say it was more than another league medal. It’s significance being ever so much for a club that was hungry for global professional success and glitzy one at that! It was, lest we forget, from day one, the beacon of Saudi Football’s global project even if that meant it exerted pressure on the likes of global footballing icons such as Ronaldo.

But last evening was different. Fate had something else in its mind. Soon as he arrived in the middle, he began scoring goals and looked to be playing the part of the key anchorman in whose fate lay the decisive course of what ultimately became a truly unforgettable evening. While he recently crossed the prized feat of scoring 100 goals in the Saudi Pro League, which in itself is such a heavy milestone, he now has no fewer than 129 goals for his Saudi club- Al Nassr in all competitions. And in spite of all that, the critics’ criticism of Ronaldo never quite evaded making the headlines.

But there’s always something about professional football; the greats deliver in moments of huge importance. Ditto for Christiano Ronaldo last evening. The icon looked determined right from the opening stages of the recently completed event. He was eager to deliver and realised the importance of the occasion- against Damac he would play the most significant role of his Saudi footballing career. Two of his goals pushed his club on the path of ascendency towards a title so coveted albeit one they hadn’t quite managed to achieve. And eventually, when the win came, it also brought upon a massive moment of realisation. A vacuum that had lingered for over half a decade, six years of being winless, to be precise, was now addressed. And grandly and diligently so by none other than that great man- Christiano Ronaldo.