Ronaldo's Spectacular Form at 39 Inspires Al Nassr's Triple Dream Amidst Challenge

Approaching his 39th birthday on February 5, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy age, operating on the pitch like a finely tuned scoring machine. His remarkable tally of 48 goals and 13 assists in the calendar year 2023 stands as a testament to his enduring class, with Al Nassr reaping the lion's share of this success with 38 goals and 11 assists in just 45 matches.

In the ongoing 2023/24 season, Ronaldo's brilliance persists. With 15 goals in 14 Saudi Arabia Professional League matches and an additional 9 goals in various cup competitions, the Portuguese maestro has netted an impressive 24 goals in 25 appearances for the Riyadh-based outfit.

Leading the goal-scoring charts in the Saudi Pro League with 15 goals, Ronaldo has outshone competitors Mitrovic of Al Hilal and Nkoudou of Damak, both trailing with 13 goals each. Despite Ronaldo's individual brilliance, Al Nassr finds itself trailing Al Hilal by a significant 7-point margin, with Al Hilal amassing 41 points after 15 matches compared to Al Nassr's 34 points in the same period.

While Al Nassr aspires to climb the league ladder, there's a glaring reliance on Ronaldo within the squad, evident in the team's struggles when he is absent or fails to find the back of the net. In the last three matches (2 draws and 1 loss), including a game without Ronaldo and two games where he didn't score, Al Nassr faced notable challenges.

Remarkably, Al Nassr boasts a lineup featuring other stellar talents such as Sadio Mane, Anderson Talisca, Otavio, Marcelo Brozovic, Aymeric Laporte, and Alex Telles. However, these players often seem less potent when Ronaldo isn't stealing the spotlight.

Despite the hurdles, Al Nassr remains steadfast on its pursuit of a treble. The team must address its shortcomings before entering the second half of the Saudi Pro League, striving to bridge the 7-point gap with Al Hilal. Additionally, under the astute guidance of coach Luis Castro, Al Nassr gears up for a challenging clash against Al Shabab in the King Cup quarterfinals and continues its journey in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League.