June 10, (THEWILL) – Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut goal-scoring performance for Al-Nassr was not enough to earn him a spot in the Saudi Pro League Team of the Season.
Although the 38-year-old Portuguese superstar found the net 14 times in just 16 games after joining the club in January, he was noticeably absent from the best XI of the Saudi top-flight. Instead, the coveted centre-forward position was awarded to Al-Hilal’s Odion Ighalo, who scored an impressive 19 goals in 27 games.
THEWILL recalls that Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr came after his contract with Manchester United was terminated, and his impact on the Riyadh club was undeniable. However, their quest for the league title fell short as they finished second behind Al-Ittihad. Meanwhile, Ighalo, the Nigerian forward, concluded the season as the third-highest scorer before leaving Al-Hilal at the conclusion of his 18-month stint with the Saudi Pro League side.
Al-Hilal initially set their sights on luring Lionel Messi to the Middle East but will now need to explore alternative options for Ighalo’s replacement, as the Argentine forward decided to join Inter Miami, spurning the chance of becoming the highest ever paid footballer in the world.
Looking ahead, Ronaldo will be determined to enhance his goal-scoring record in the upcoming season and guide Al-Nassr to the Saudi title in 2023-24. However, formidable competition looms as Al-Ittihad have bolstered their own ranks with the addition of Ronaldo’s ex-strike partner Karim Benzema. It promises to be a thrilling battle between these two powerhouses for the championship in the League’s next chapter.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
