Ronaldo Hits 980th Career Goal as Al-Nassr Thrash Diriyah 3-0 in Saudi Pro League
If there is one footballer who knows how to answer a controversy with a football, it is Cristiano Ronaldo. Back in Riyadh on Friday night after the stormiest international break of his career, the 41-year-old opened the scoring in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 win over Diriyah — the 980th goal of his extraordinary career. Al Nassr vs…
If there is one footballer who knows how to answer a controversy with a football, it is Cristiano Ronaldo. Back in Riyadh on Friday night after the stormiest international break of his career, the 41-year-old opened the scoring in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 win over Diriyah — the 980th goal of his extraordinary career.
Al Nassr vs Diriyah: Match at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Al Nassr vs Diriyah — Saudi Pro League, Matchday 8 (2026-27 season) |
| Date | Friday, October 9, 2026 (kickoff 9:00 PM Saudi time / 11:00 PM PKT) |
| Venue | Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh |
| Result | Al Nassr 3-0 Diriyah |
| Goals | Ronaldo 23′, Samu Costa 35′, Kingsley Coman 77′ |
| Table impact | Al-Nassr move level on points with leaders Al-Qadsiah (19 points after 8 games) |
| Previous meeting | Al Nassr beat Diriyah 4-1 in the King’s Cup on August 18, 2026 |
Ronaldo’s 980th Goal: How the Night Unfolded
The script felt written for him. In the eighth minute, the Al-Nassr ultras unfurled a giant banner across their stand: “Greatness Is Earned. CR7.” Seconds later, Ronaldo had the ball in the net — chalked off for offside. Then, in the 23rd minute, the real one arrived. Kingsley Coman’s shot from outside the box was parried by Diriyah goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah, and Ronaldo pounced on the rebound from close range. Goal number 980: 834 for his clubs, 146 for Portugal.
Just before the break, Samu Costa rose to head home a João Félix corner to make it 2-0, and Coman finished the job himself in the 77th minute to seal a thoroughly routine evening for the defending champions. Ange Postecoglou’s side barely had to break stride.
Answering the Portugal Storm
This was Ronaldo’s first game since walking out of Portugal’s national team camp, and the context is impossible to ignore. During the international window, he left the squad after a breakdown of trust with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus — ironically, his own former Al-Nassr boss — over playing-time promises in the Nations League. In a lengthy statement on Tuesday, he accused Jesus of not treating him as a player of his stature, accepted responsibility for his departure, and apologised to his teammates and supporters.
On Friday night in Riyadh, there was no trace of any of it. Ronaldo looked sharp from the first whistle — before the goal he had already created presentable chances for Sadio Mané and Costa — and celebrated with his teammates long into the night. After the final whistle he posted on X: “Job done. On to the next one!”
Al-Nassr’s Title Defence Takes Shape
The defending champions entered Matchday 8 in third, two points off the pace after a 1-1 draw with Al-Khaleej. This win — coupled with Al-Qadsiah’s 5-0 thrashing of Al-Kholood in the same round — has them level on points at the top of the Saudi Pro League. Postecoglou’s men are defending the title they won in May, and performances like this one suggest they intend to keep it.
Diriyah, in their first-ever Saudi Pro League campaign after promotion, stay on 11 points in mid-table. Bruno Lage’s side — featuring former Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez — had shown they can compete at this level, but Al-Awwal Park against this Al-Nassr was a step too far. They will regroup at home to Al-Taawoun on October 18.
Form Comparison: Al Nassr vs Diriyah
| Al Nassr | Diriyah | |
|---|---|---|
| League position (after Matchday 8) | Level on points at top (19 pts) | Mid-table (11 pts) |
| Points before this match | 16 from 7 games (3rd) | 11 from 7 games (8th) |
| Coach | Ange Postecoglou | Bruno Lage |
| Star names | Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, João Félix, Kingsley Coman | Darwin Núñez, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Chancel Mbemba |
| Last league result before this | 1-1 draw at Al-Khaleej | 0-0 vs Abha |
| Next fixture | vs Neftchi Fergana, ACL Elite (Oct 13); at Al Ahli (Oct 16) | vs Al-Taawoun (Oct 18) |
FAQs
What was the score of Al-Nassr vs Diriyah on October 9, 2026?
Al-Nassr beat Diriyah 3-0 in Matchday 8 of the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League at Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh. The goals came from Cristiano Ronaldo (23′), Samu Costa (35′) and Kingsley Coman (77′).
How many career goals does Cristiano Ronaldo have now?
Ronaldo’s opener against Diriyah was the 980th goal of his career — 834 at club level and 146 for Portugal. He is now just 20 goals away from the unprecedented 1,000-goal milestone.
Why did Cristiano Ronaldo walk out of the Portugal camp?
Ronaldo left Portugal’s Nations League training camp after a disagreement with newly hired coach Jorge Jesus over promised playing time. In a statement on October 6, he accused Jesus of not being true to his word, accepted responsibility for his departure, apologised to teammates and fans, and reaffirmed his willingness to represent Portugal again.
Where do Al-Nassr and Diriyah stand in the Saudi Pro League table?
After eight games, defending champions Al-Nassr are level on points with leaders Al-Qadsiah on 19 points. Diriyah, in their first Saudi Pro League season after promotion, have 11 points and sit in mid-table.
Who else scored for Al-Nassr against Diriyah?
Samu Costa doubled the lead with a 35th-minute header from João Félix’s corner, and Kingsley Coman sealed the win in the 77th minute with a strike late in the second half.
When do Al-Nassr play next?
Al-Nassr face Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League Elite on October 13, 2026, followed by an away league trip to Al Ahli on October 16.
Who coaches Al-Nassr and Diriyah?
Al-Nassr are coached by former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, while Diriyah are led by Bruno Lage.
