On Saturday evening, Cristiano Ronaldo finally broke his three-year free-kick drought, scoring a stunning effort for Al-Nassr in their match against Abha.
The Portuguese superstar had not scored a free-kick since July 2020, but he ended his drought in style with a spectacular effort from over 30 yards out.
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It's a record 31st FA Cup semi-final for @ManUtd 🏆#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/AhtYrfdc8q
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
Ronaldo’s goal came at a crucial moment for Al-Nassr, who were attempting to close the gap on Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Ittihad.
Rudi Garcia’s side had fallen behind to Abha in the 26th minute of the match, but Ronaldo’s stunning free-kick in the 77th minute brought them back on level terms.
The 38-year-old made no mistake with his effort, smashing the ball into the bottom corner past Abha goalkeeper David Epassy, who was left remonstrating with his teammates.
In the aftermath of Ronaldo’s goal, fans of his long-time rival Lionel Messi took to social media, altering Epassy’s Wikipedia page to read that he had been diagnosed with “Sadmessifans-Syndrom” after Ronaldo’s goal.
Although Ronaldo’s goal triggered wild celebrations among Al-Nassr fans, it was likely to be a moment of relief for the striker.
Ronaldo’s goal proved to be crucial for Al-Nassr, who went on to secure a vital three points in the Saudi title race.
After opponents Abha were reduced to ten men, Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca netted an 86th-minute penalty to secure victory.
Interestingly, Ronaldo and Talisca had an interesting exchange earlier in the week, as they faced the same opponents in the King Cup of Champions quarter-finals.
In the aftermath of the match, Ronaldo took to Instagram to share his thoughts.
“Good victory team! We move on to the semi-final.”
Talisca then replied to Ronaldo’s post with a simple message, saying “Brabo bixo,” which roughly translates to “angry dude.”
Ronaldo’s frustration during the game was evident, as he angrily gesticulated toward the referee.
This is before booting the ball into the opposition half of the pitch after the first half was brought to an end 30 seconds early.
The Portuguese striker was attempting to spearhead a counter-attack, but his reaction was met with a yellow card.
Despite his frustration during the match, Ronaldo’s return to the starting line-up is sure to boost his goal-scoring tally in the next two matches, at least against Luxembourg.
Football fans will be eagerly watching to see if Ronaldo can continue his impressive form and lead Al-Nassr to victory in the Saudi title race.
