Cristiano Ronaldo made a big splash when he returned to the field after 51 days away. He scored in his first game of the new season, helping Al Nassr come from behind to beat the French team Toulouse 2-1 in a pre-season friendly.
The encounter in Riyadh was a great warm-up for both sides before their separate campaigns. It had plenty of action and storylines, especially the return of CR7.
First Half: A Mistake Punished, Then Ronaldo Responds
In the 25th minute, Toulouse scored first after Al Nassr made a mistake on defence. Midfielder Yahya Al-Shehri missed a pass in the middle of the field, which let Toulouse forward Thijs Dallinga intercept it and swiftly free Kévin Keben, who finished calmly in a one-on-one to make it 1-0.
But the Saudi side swiftly struck again, and in style. Wesley Telesha made a brilliant assist just eight minutes later after winning the ball far up the field. He passed the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, who calmly tapped in the equaliser from close range to make it 1-1. It was a typical poacher’s finish and a good reminder of how good Ronaldo is at scoring goals.
Second Half: Al Nassr Complete the Comeback
In the second half, both teams experimented with different combinations, but Al Nassr started to take control of the game. In the 75th minute, their patience and possession finally paid off.
Substitute Nawaf Al-Boushail sent a perfect cross from the right flank, and teenage striker Mohammed Maran rose highest to head home the go-ahead goal, giving Al Nassr a 2-1 lead.
In the last few minutes, Toulouse surged forward looking for an equaliser, but Al Nassr held on to win.
A Promising Start for Ronaldo and Al Nassr
This encounter was not only Al Nassr’s first friendly of the 2025/26 season, but it was also Ronaldo’s long-awaited return to the field. At 40 years old, the famous Portuguese player showed once again that age is just a number. His movement off the ball, quick touches, and precise finish prove that he is still a highly dangerous player.
With this goal, Ronaldo has officially started his new campaign and given fans every reason to think that he is still the heart of Al Nassr’s assault.
