Cristiano Ronaldo led his team, Al-Nassr, to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Al-Rayyan in the second round of the AFC Champions League elite group stage on Monday. Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr’s second goal in the 76th minute with a powerful left-footed strike into the right corner of Al-Rayyan’s net, bringing his career goal tally to an impressive 904.
Ronaldo’s celebration after the goal caught attention for its departure from his iconic “Siuuu” celebration. Instead, he moved towards the corner flag and raised both index fingers towards the sky.
According to TNT Sports, Ronaldo dedicated this goal to the memory of his late father, José Dinis Aveiro, whose birthday coincided with the match on September 30. Aveiro was born in 1953 and passed away on September 6, 2005. The emotional gesture was Ronaldo’s way of honoring his father’s memory on this significant day.
In a post-match press conference, Ronaldo explained, “I’m enjoying football and victories now. Numbers don’t matter to me, but today’s goal had special meaning. I wish my father was here to witness this day.”
He also reflected on the constant pressure in his career, adding, “Living under pressure is my normal life. It’s been with me since the first day I wore Manchester United’s shirt, and it will stay with me until my last day.”
Al-Nassr previously drew 1-1 with Al-Shorta in their first AFC Champions League elite group match, and the team is set to play six more matches in the West group of the tournament.
