'I belong to Saudi Arabia': Ronaldo drapes Saudi scarf in show of support amid regional tensions after 981st goal
Cristiano Ronaldo is now just 19 goals away from reaching 1,000 career goals. But his latest appearance for Al Nassr was about much more than football. The 41 year old Portuguese superstar scored his 981st career goal as Al Nassr defeated Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite in Riyadh on Monday. However, it was Ronaldo's emotional gesture towards Saudi Arabia that…
Cristiano Ronaldo, who is just 19 goals away from achieving 1,000 career goals, scored his 981st career goal during Al Nassr's AFC Champions League Elite match against Neftchi Fergana on Monday. The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar was seen kissing the Saudi national emblem on his shirt before the game and draping a Saudi flag scarf over his shoulders after the match.
This emotional display of support for Saudi Arabia came amid heightened tensions following recent Houthi missile attacks. Al Nassr's match against Neftchi Fergana had been delayed by an hour due to a security alert in Riyadh. Following the match, Ronaldo expressed his connection to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stating during a June 2025 interview with Al Nassr's official media: "I am Portuguese, but I belong to Saudi Arabia."
This sentiment was reiterated through photos shared by the club's official Arabic and English accounts, showing Ronaldo wearing the Saudi colors and celebrating with them.
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