Cristiano Ronaldo scored a superb header as Al Nassr got their Saudi Pro League season underway.
Luis Castro's team hosted Al Raed on August 22 in their opening top-flight game of 2024/25, having been thrashed 4-1 by Al Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup final in their previous match.
It came as little surprise when Ronaldo opened the scoring, just as he had in that cup final defeat, but the manner of the goal still left plenty of fans in amazement.
After former Liverpool star Sadio Mane turned well into space and clipped a cross towards the centre of the penalty area, Ronaldo leaped highest before heading the ball into the net from six yards out.
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The Portugal star rose well above the Al Raed defenders, his hang time seeming to defy belief before he powered the header past goalkeeper Meshari Abdulaziz Sunyur. It was a remarkable piece of physical play from a man who will turn 40 next February.
Still, the game did not go according to plan for Ronaldo and Al Nassr. A defensive mistake saw ex-Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte concede a penalty early in the second half and, although a VAR review overturned the red card for the Spain international, Mohamed Fouzair dispatched the spot-kick to make it 1-1.
Ronaldo had a second goal disallowed for a marginal offside call, and Al Nassr were otherwise thwarted by the excellent goalkeeping of Sunyur, who helped his side claim a point.