After another Man of Match display, Ronaldo title message clear: 'Win, win, win'

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Cristiano Ronaldo put in another decisive display in Al Nassr yellow, dragging the club back into third in the Roshn Saudi League, and then was asked if the top-flight title was still within reach.

Al Nassr had rebounded well from Friday’s set-back against Al Ettifaq to, four days later, see off Al Wehda 2-0 in Mecca.

Ronaldo, last year’s golden boot winner, was again at the heart of the away side’s victory, scoring the opener with a header minutes into the second half and then creating a penalty deep into injury-time, when his free-kick struck an Al Wehda arm.

Showing a captain's consideration, he then passed the ball for Sadio Mane to take the spot-kick and convert.

The win saw Al Nassr reclaim their place in the RSL top three, keeping them four points from second-placed Al Hilal and four more back from leaders Al Ittihad.

Integral to their runner-up finish last season, and Man of the Match here at Al Wehda, Ronaldo’s message now to his teammates and the club’s supporters was clear: head down, move forward and, most importantly, keep racking up the victories.

“Game-by-game, we have to build again the confidence,” the Portuguese superstar said. “Because we are coming from seven consecutive wins, and then we dropped the last week. So we have to do it again.

“We have to win, win, win and let’s see what’s going to happen.”

Sadio Mane shows gratitude to Cristiano Ronaldo for passing the penalty v Al Wehda

Ronaldo’s 17th goal of the 2024-25 RSL means he moved back out in front in the race for the season’s top-scorer award, lifting him to one ahead of former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.

The Frenchman, now a counterpart captain at Al Ittihad, could most probably alter those standings if, as expected, he leads the line again for his side at Al Khaleej on Wednesday night in the closing game of an already thrilling Matchweek 22.

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Portuguese icon showing little sign of slowing down

Ronaldo, though, was more concerned with Al Nassr’s collective comeback following that rocking 3-2 defeat at home to Al Ettifaq last weekend. And, with his team back on the right track at the very next opportunity, he seemed content with Tuesday's response.

“Should be like that,” Ronaldo said. “This is Al Nassr, we have to react. In life, it is the same. When we are in bad moments we have to react in good moments and the opposite also.

“So we are happy, we are in a way and we have to continue to win. And let’s see what’s going to happen.”