Cristiano Ronaldo Shines Again in Al Nassr’s 4-1 Victory

Al Nassr continued their impeccable start to the Saudi Pro League season with an impressive 4-1 victory over Al Khaleej on Sunday. This remarkable performance featured goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and several high-profile signings from the club.

With João Félix and Sadio Mané already finding the net, Ronaldo capped off the match in the 96th minute with an extraordinary overhead kick, showcasing his enduring talent at the age of 40. Despite Al Khaleej goalkeeper Anthony Moris getting a hand on the ball, he could not prevent it from reaching the back of the net.

This acrobatic goal marked the 954th of Ronaldo’s illustrious career, allowing Al Nassr to secure victories in all nine of their opening league fixtures, placing them four points clear at the top of the table. It also represented the fourth spectacular overhead kick in the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s extensive goal portfolio.

One notable overhead kick that could have topped this list occurred during a Euro 2008 qualifier against Azerbaijan on October 7, 2006. Ronaldo executed a bicycle kick that struck the underside of the crossbar, but officials failed to recognize that the ball had crossed the line due to the absence of goal-line technology at the time. Despite scoring two goals in the match, he was denied a memorable hat trick.

While not strictly an ‘overhead’ kick due to his body’s diagonal orientation, Ronaldo delivered a stunning scissor kick that opened the scoring in a 5-1 victory over the Faroe Islands during a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Just a year before his latest heroics in the Saudi league, Ronaldo netted two goals in a 5-1 triumph over Poland in the UEFA Nations League, including a leaping volley that showcased his remarkable skill.

Ronaldo’s latest addition to his collection of overhead kicks served as the perfect climax to Al Nassr’s dominant win over Al Khaleej. Without a doubt, the most memorable overhead kick of his career occurred during the 2017-18 Champions League when he scored against Juventus, a goal that was later voted the best of the tournament by UEFA.