On a tumultuous football night in Jeddah, the amazing scoring streak of Al-Nassr's captain, the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, came to an end after he collided with Al-Ahli's defensive wall in the 13th round of the Saudi Professional League.
The match, held on Friday evening, was a thrilling affair, with Al-Ahli securing a 3-2 victory in the derby. The game lived up to its promise of intense competition and a flurry of goals. Al-Ahli's goals came courtesy of English striker Ivan Tony, who opened the scoring early with two goals in the 7th and 20th minutes, before Turkish defender Merih Demiral added a third in the 55th minute. Al-Nassr attempted a comeback, with defender Abdulilah Al-Amri turning heads and scoring twice in the 31st and 44th minutes.
Details of Ronaldo's train's stoppage
The most notable statistical event in this encounter wasn't just the loss, but Cristiano Ronaldo's failure to score for the first time after a marathon scoring streak. The "Madeira Rocket" failed to find the net in a Saudi Professional League match for the first time since September 2025, ending his nine-game scoring run – a record that reflects the Portuguese star's remarkable consistency despite his age.
Going back to the recent archives, the last time Ronaldo went goalless before this match was the match of eternity on September 14, which ended with Al-Nassr winning 2-0 with goals from Sadio Mane and Iñigo Martínez.
The importance of El Clásico and the development of the Saudi League
Matches between Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr always hold a special significance in Saudi football, with this classic encounter being one of the most prestigious in the Arab region. This match further underscores the rising competitiveness of the Saudi Professional League, which now boasts a stellar lineup of international stars. The presence of names like Ivan Toni in Al-Ahli's attack, and João Félix and Ronaldo in Al-Nassr, reflects the qualitative leap Saudi sports are experiencing, where matches are no longer predetermined, and tactical and physical competition has reached its peak.
This victory for Al-Ahli is not just about three points, but a great moral victory by breaking Al-Nasr’s attack dominance and stopping the danger of its leader, which ignites the competition at the top of the standings and reshuffles the cards in the competition for the title.
The race for the top scorer heats up
Despite ending his scoring streak this evening, Cristiano Ronaldo still leads the Saudi Pro League scoring charts with 13 goals. However, the competition has intensified, as his teammate and compatriot João Félix shares the same tally, setting the stage for an exciting internal battle within Al-Nassr and an external battle with the other league strikers for this season's Golden Boot.
