AAP Soccer

Ronaldo puts Portugal dramas aside with Al Nassr goal

By AAP Newswire

Oct 13, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to deliver at club level amid uncertainty over his international future, scoring in Al Nassr's 3-1 AFC Champions League Elite win over Neftchi Fergana.

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The 41-year-old was provisionally suspended by Portugal on Saturday after walking out on the national team during the international break.

Having been on target in Friday's 3-0 Saudi Pro League victory against Diriyah, Ronaldo fired home on the turn to double Al Nassr's lead against the Uzbek champions in the 42nd minute after Angelo opened the scoring in Riyadh on Monday (Tuesday AEDT).

Neftchi's former Brentford and Middlesbrough forward Marcus Forss had a goal disallowed for offside, before Alisher Odilov halved the deficit.

But the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute when Ikromjon Alibaev was sent off, and Anvarjon Gofurov's own goal sealed victory for Ange Postecoglou's hosts.

Ronaldo left Portugal's squad after he was an unused substitute for a 2-1 win away to Norway in the Nations League on September 27.

He claimed head coach Jorge Jesus had reneged on an agreement about how many minutes he would play, but later apologised for his actions and accepted he deserved to be sanctioned.

Ronaldo has scored a record 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, with Jesus leaving the door open to a return by saying: "If he wants to, he'll return to the national team."