Ronaldo’s fury prompts benching as Al Nassr rally from 0‑2

Cristiano Ronaldo saw his Al Nassr side reduced to ten men after a 0‑2 first‑half deficit against Al Ettifaq, and the Portuguese star was taken off at the start of the second half by coach Ange Postecoglou, leaving the Saudi Pro League match in Riyadh to be completed without him.

Ronaldo’s early outburst and substitution

Ronaldo was visibly angry with his teammates during the first 45 minutes. Coach Ange Postecoglou removed the Portuguese forward at the start of the second half, sending him to the dressing room.

The encounter, the third round of the Saudi Pro League, turned at the 12th minute when goalkeeper Bento was sent off for a foul outside the area on Moussa Dembélé. Al Nassr reshaped the defence by introducing 18‑year‑old Abdulrahman Al‑Otaibi as the new goalkeeper.

The young keeper’s limited reflexes contributed to both first‑half goals, first from Ondrej Duda’s strike and then from Álvaro Medrán’s effort, leaving the visitors trailing 2‑0 at the break. Cameras captured Ronaldo gesturing at his teammates during the hydration pause and after each concession, and he continued his gestures toward the stands after exiting the pitch.

Postecoglou’s bold half‑time gamble sidelines Ronaldo in Saudi showdown

Al Nassr’s comeback without Ronaldo

Postecoglou’s decision to replace Ronaldo with Abdullah Al‑Khaibari proved decisive as Sadio Mané took charge of the final stage, scoring twice to level the game. Abdulelah Al‑Amri added the winning goal, completing a 3‑2 turnaround achieved with ten men and without the team’s most celebrated player. The dramatic reversal unfolded in Riad, the Saudi capital.

The match marked Ronaldo’s first start of the season, which he described as his 25th season as a professional footballer. The previous Friday he had come off the bench in a 4‑0 victory over Al Riyadh, his first appearance after the World Cup, and he scored one of the goals.

That goal brought Ronaldo’s career tally to 977 goals across clubs and the Portugal national team, comprising 451 for Real Madrid, 146 for Portugal, 145 for Manchester United, 128 for Al Nassr, 101 for Juventus and 5 for Sporting CP. He needs 23 more to reach the landmark 1,000 goals he is actively pursuing.

Ronaldo, who recently married Georgina Rodríguez, continues his chase from Saudi Arabia while his long‑time rival Lionel Messi has recorded 923 goals and 420 assists in 1,170 matches for Barcelona, Paris Saint‑Germain, Argentina and Inter Miami. Messi, 77 goals shy of 1,000, has added 94 goals and 52 assists in 110 official games for Inter Miami, leaving Ronaldo ahead by 54 goals but trailing by 159 assists.