"Still balling at 38", "Transforming the Saudi league" - Fans hail Cristiano Ronaldo as he scores brace for Al-Nassr in 4-3 win over Al-Ahli

Fans have heralded Cristiano Ronaldo as he continued his scintillating start to the Saudi Pro League season with a brilliant brace in Al-Nassr's 4-3 win over Al-Ahli.

Ronaldo had bagged seven goals and five assists in seven games across competitions heading into the game on Friday (September 22). His double against Al-Ahli proved to be the difference as the legendary forward produced another impressive performance.

The Al-Nassr superstar's first arrived in the fourth minute when he was played in on goal by Sadio Mane. He had no problem firing past former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Anderson Talisca doubled Al-Alami's lead in the 17th minute before former Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie got Al-Ahli back in the game 13 minutes later.

Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't the first to bag a brace on the night, though, as Talisca was on the scoresheet again in the 45+6th minute. However, Matthias Jaissle's side got back in the game again through Riyad Mahrez's 50th-minute penalty.

That was before Ronaldo came to the fore, as he has done throughout his illustrious career. This time the five-time Ballon d'Or winner sent a fine left-footed effort past Mendy.

Al-Nassr endured a nervy finish when Feras Albrikan netted in the 87th minute, but the hosts held on at KSU Football Field to clinch the win.

Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration after full-time as his side leaped to fifth in the Saudi Pro League. It was another captivating performance from the Al-Alami captain.

Here's how fans on X (formerly Twitter) reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo's winning performance against Al-Ahli:

Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate Jesse Lingard to train with Al-Ettifaq

Cristiano Ronaldo could soon be joined in the Saudi Pro League by another familiar face. He was reunited with former Manchester United teammate Alex Telles in the summer when he joined Al-Nassr from the Red Devils.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Ronaldo's former United teammate Jesse Lingard is also heading to Saudi. The English attacker is set to train with Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq for a month ahead of a potential deal.

Lingard, 30, has been a free agent since leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer. He was training with his other former club West Ham United but appears to have not convinced David Moyes to re-sign him.

Ronaldo knows Lingard from his second spell at Old Trafford, with the pair leaving the club unceremoniously last year. Lingard made 232 appearances across competitions for the Red Devils, bagging 35 goals and 21 assists.

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A Manchester United fan since childhood, Matthew admired Sir Alex Ferguson for his loyalty and brave coaching style. His favorite footballer is Thierry Henry, believing the Frenchman to be uniquely talented and charismatic. An ardent Three Lions fan, England's penalty shootout win over Colombia in 2018 is his favorite FIFA World Cup moment of all time, and he believes that Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe will have a Ballon d’Or duopoly after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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