Sadio Mane and Unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo Fire Al-Nassr Past Karim Benzema's Al-Ittihad
- Al-Nassr continued their perfect Saudi Pro League start with a commanding win over Karim Benzema's Al-Ittihad
- Former Real Madrid stars Benzema and Ronaldo faced off in a high-stakes showdown that saw one of them notch another milestone
- Fans went wild on social media as Ronaldo’s latest achievement cemented his status as one of football’s all-time greats
Al-Nassr secured a 2-0 away win over Al-Ittihad in Jeddah on Friday September 26, thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo, handing Karim Benzema his first loss in the Saudi Pro League this season.
The evening began with a warm reunion as former Real Madrid teammates Benzema and Ronaldo went head-to-head on Matchday 4 of the 2025 Saudi league.
Source: Getty Images
Ronaldo, Mane on target against Al-Ittihad
In front of 60,000 enthusiastic fans, Al-Nassr wasted no time asserting dominance. Just nine minutes in, Sadio Mané struck a sublime volley, perfectly assisted by Kingsley Coman, according to Flashscore.
Cristiano Ronaldo then extended the lead in the 35th minute, rising to head home his 946th career goal, further solidifying Al-Nassr’s grip on the match.
The defeat leaves the defending champions struggling, having already suffered three losses across all competitions this season.
After the match, Karim Benzema admitted his team was outperformed, acknowledging the quality of their opponents. Despite his efforts to inspire a second-half comeback, Al-Ittihad were unable to respond.
Meanwhile, coach Al-Ittihad boss Laurent Blanc echoed his striker’s sentiments, noting that Al-Nassr were simply the better team on the night, as cited by Goal.
Source: Getty Images
Blanc, who has reportedly faced mounting pressure at the club, also addressed questions about his future, expressing surprise at the speculation and highlighting Al-Ittihad’s previously solid home record before this first defeat in Jeddah.
Ronaldo's scores 947th career goal
Friday night's victory saw Al-Nassr maintain their perfect run at the start of the new Saudi Pro League season, picking up four wins in as many matches to go three points clear of Al-Ittihad.
It also saw Cristiano Ronaldo notch up his 946th career goals. The 40-year-old's career haul includes 5 goals for Sporting CP, 145 across two spells at Manchester United, 450 for Real Madrid, 101 during his time at Juventus, 104 for his current club Al Nassr, and 141 for the Portugal national team.
Fans react to Ronaldo’s 946th career goal
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s milestone sparked a flood of reactions on social media, with fans praising the Portuguese superstar for his incredible longevity and goal-scoring prowess.
@ZenmiRC said:
''Pele and Romario must be shaking. Cristiano Ronaldo ever close to hitting the 1000 goal mark. What a player.''
@Zirn3New wrote:
''You guys shouldn't be surprised that Messi will first him to hit the 1000 goals he's looking for.''
@Saal7dor also commented:
''Watching ronaldo lately and i swear the only thing he lacks is his dribbling and few yards of pace. He is still elite at 40.''
Can Cristiano Ronaldo score 1000 goals?
Earlier, YEN.com.gh explored the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo reaching the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals.
The legendary footballer has already broken numerous records and appears poised to reach yet another major milestone, potentially before he hangs up his boots.
Source: YEN.com.gh
