Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal as Al Nassr defeated Al Taawoun 2-1 on Friday to maintain their perfect start to the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League campaign.

The 41-year-old Portugal forward played the full match at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, helping Al Nassr secure their fourth consecutive league victory and remain at the top of the table.

Al Nassr had to recover from an early setback after Al Taawoun took the lead in the 11th minute. Samu Costa restored parity just before half-time before Ronaldo completed the comeback five minutes after the restart.

Al Taawoun Strike Early

Al Taawoun made a fast start and stunned the home side in the 11th minute.

Mohammed Bassam Al Hurayji put the visitors ahead after reacting quickest to a loose ball following a shot from Yousif El Bahroui that struck the crossbar. His finish gave Al Taawoun a 1-0 advantage.

The early goal forced Al Nassr to chase the game, with Ronaldo and his attacking teammates looking for a response.

Al Taawoun managed to protect its lead for most of the first half, but Al Nassr eventually found an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

Costa Levels Before Break

Al Nassr drew level in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.

Samu Costa received the ball from Sadio Mane and fired a low effort from outside the penalty area that found the back of the net. The goal sent the teams into the interval level at 1-1.

The equaliser proved important for Al Nassr, who entered the second half with renewed momentum after struggling to break down Al Taawoun during the opening 45 minutes.

Ronaldo Completes Comeback

Ronaldo put Al Nassr ahead just five minutes into the second half.

Joao Felix began the attacking move down the left before the ball eventually reached Mohamed Simakan around the edge of the box. Simakan's effort was heading towards goal before Ronaldo got a decisive touch from close range, redirecting the ball into the net.

The goal was initially subject to scrutiny because Simakan's original shot appeared to be travelling towards the target. Replays confirmed Ronaldo's touch and the goal stood.

It became the decisive moment of the match as Al Nassr held on to their 2-1 advantage.

Ronaldo Reaches 978 Goals

The strike was another milestone in Ronaldo's remarkable scoring career.

The goal took his reported official career tally to 978 goals, leaving him 22 short of the 1,000-goal mark.

Ronaldo had endured a frustrating outing in Al Nassr's previous match against Al Ettifaq, when manager Ange Postecoglou substituted him during a dramatic comeback.

Against Al Taawoun, however, Ronaldo completed the match and delivered the winning contribution for his team.

Al Nassr Maintain Perfect Record

The victory gave Al Nassr four wins from four league matches, keeping their perfect record intact.

The Riyadh-based club moved to 12 points at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings, while Al Taawoun remained near the bottom after another match without a victory.

The result also continued the strong start under Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou, who has seen his side produce four consecutive league victories.

Al Nassr's ability to recover after conceding first could prove important as the season progresses.

Strong Comeback Again

The win was Al Nassr's second comeback victory in the space of a few days.

Earlier in the week, the team had recovered from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Al Ettifaq 3-2, scoring three times during the final 16 minutes. Ronaldo had been substituted in that match, but the team continued to fight back without him.

Against Al Taawoun, Ronaldo remained on the pitch and provided the finishing touch that completed another comeback.

The two results underline Al Nassr's ability to respond to difficult situations while maintaining their winning momentum.

Al Taawoun Pay Price

Al Taawoun will be disappointed after taking the lead and holding Al Nassr at bay for much of the opening half.

The visitors' defensive effort kept Ronaldo relatively quiet during the early stages, but Costa's stoppage-time equaliser changed the momentum.

After Ronaldo's second-half goal, Al Taawoun were unable to find another equaliser despite attempting to remain competitive until the final whistle.

The defeat leaves the club searching for its first league win of the campaign.

What Happens Next

Al Nassr's perfect start puts them firmly at the top of the Saudi Pro League after four rounds.

For Ronaldo, the latest goal provides another step towards the extraordinary 1,000-career-goal milestone, while his decisive contribution also settles the immediate questions surrounding his role following the previous match.

Al Nassr will now look to extend their winning run as the season continues, while Al Taawoun face the task of turning their early-season form around.

For now, Ronaldo remains the headline figure after another match-winning intervention helped Al Nassr preserve their perfect league record.