Ronaldo scored with his back, yet Al Nassr still failed to secure a win

Al Nassr’s run of 10 straight wins in the Saudi Pro League was halted after a 2-2 draw against Al-Ettifaq in the 12th round.

The 2-2 draw between Al Nassr and Al-Ettifaq on the evening of December 30, 2025, captured media attention not only for the unexpected result but also because of Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredibly rare goal. Although their winning streak was broken after 10 matches, Al Nassr still finished 2025 at the top of the Pro League table, highlighted by the emotional performance of the 40-year-old superstar.

The most remarkable moment occurred in the 67th minute with the score tied at 1-1. Following a chaotic aerial challenge, Ronaldo fell inside the penalty area but quickly got back up. At that moment, Joao Felix unleashed a precise curling shot from 13 meters. Unexpectedly, the ball struck Ronaldo’s back as he turned, completely changing direction and leaving goalkeeper Marek Rodak frozen as the ball went into the net.

Immediately after the fortunate back-heel goal, Al Nassr’s captain sprinted to the corner of the pitch to perform his signature spinning celebration, cheered loudly by the crowd at EGO stadium. This was CR7’s 957th career goal and his 41st goal in 2025 alone. It also marked his ninth consecutive match scoring in the Saudi Pro League — an impressive streak for the veteran Portuguese star.

Despite Ronaldo earning a high rating (8.3) for his energy and unusual goal, Al Nassr could not leave the field with the full three points. Joao Felix’s contribution of a goal and an assist wasn’t enough to cover defensive errors, as former Liverpool player Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice to help hosts Al-Ettifaq secure a valuable point.

The 2-2 draw allowed second-placed Al-Taawoun to narrow the gap to just three points. After the match, Ronaldo shared an optimistic message on social media: "We are on the right track and know what we need to do in 2026." This strong statement came ahead of the crucial showdown against rivals Al Hilal on January 2.