Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty but then scored a long-range screamer as Al Nassr extended their unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season with a 5-1 hammering of lowly Al Fateh on Saturday.
The 40-year-old Ronaldo struck the woodwork in the first half and got the chance to put his side back in front when Al Nassr were awarded a penalty for handball early in the second with the scores tied at 1-1.
Ronaldo's weak effort was saved down to his left by Fateh keeper Ameen Al Bukhari, but the Portuguese striker responded almost immediately to grab his side's second goal.
This time Al Bukhari stood little chance as Ronaldo unleashed a thunderbolt from the edge of the box that flew into the top corner and sparked wild celebrations that led to him being booked for taking off his shirt.
It was the 949th goal of his career as he continues to chase the 1,000 mark.
Ronaldo's strike came in between two goals from the in-form Joao Felix. Ronaldo's fellow Poruguese has hit the ground running in the kingdom and has now scored 11 goals in 10 games across competitions.
After Kingsley Coman had grabbed Al Nassr's fourth, Felix wrapped up his second hat trick of the season after Sadio Mane's initial effort was blocked on the line.
The result means Al Nassr – seeking a first SPL crown since 2019 – have an early four-point lead over rivals Al Hilal at the top of the table.
Hilal, coached by the former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi, have drawn two of their five league games but hit form themselves with a spectacular 5-0 hammering of Al Ettifaq.
New signing Darwin Nunez struck a brace, as did Brazil striker Marcos Leonardo, with a Ruben Neves penalty completing the scoring.
Al Hilal host Qatar's Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday while Nassr visit Goa in the AFC's second tier competition on Wednesday
