'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr advanced to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after a 0-0 draw against Persepolis on Monday (November 27). However, fans will be fearful after the Saudi Pro League giants' captain picked up a knock in the second half.
Al-Alami were quick out of the gates and were awarded a penalty when Ronaldo went down in the box in the second minute. But, the legendary forward displayed sportsmanship by gesturing to the referee that it wasn't a foul. VAR checked the incident and the referee overturned his decision after reviewing the decision on the pitchside monitor.
Luis Castro's men controlled proceedings in the visitors' half but lacked a killer instinct. They were nearly caught on the counter in the 11th minute but for a brilliant tackle from Aymeric Laporte to Iranian forward Shahab Zahedi.
Trending
Al-Nassr were handed a massive setback six minutes later when Saudi Arabian defender Ali Lajami was sent off. He left his studs on Persepolis' Iranian midfielder Milad Sarlak. Cristiano Ronaldo looked on in dismay as his side went down to 10 men.
The one-man disadvantage led to Ronaldo having to drop deep to help out his side during the first half. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner did try his luck from 40 yards out in the 45+1st minute but his effort flew wide over the bar.
Ronaldo picked up a knock a minute into the second half after a dodgy collision. The Saudi Pro League top scorer collided with Persepolis' Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand who ended up falling on the striker's neck.
The visitors searched for an opener and went close in the 53rd minute. Iranian winger Omid Alishah's fine effort was beaten away by Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi.
Ronaldo was brought off in the 76th minute as he appeared to be still feeling the impact of his collision with Beiranvand. He watched on as Castro's 10 men put on a brave defensive performance to keep Persepolis at bay.
Al-Nassr ensured their place in the last 16 with their draw at KSU Stadium. One fan touched on Ronaldo's sportsmanship:
"Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't need gifts from referees....well done Cris."
Here's how fans on X (formerly Twitter) reacted as Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Alami booked their ticket to the AFC Champions League knockout stages:
Jude Bellingham breaks one of Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid records
It's fair to say that the best period of Cristiano Ronaldo's career came while at Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018. The five-time UEFA Champions League winner bagged 450 goals and 131 assists in 438 games, making him Los Blancos' all-time record goalscorer.
Ronaldo broke many records during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. One that had stood for 14 years was his 13 goals in his first 15 appearances for the La Liga giants. That tally took him alongside the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano and Spanish icon Pruden.
However, Madrid's newest superstar Jude Bellingham has shattered that record. The English midfielder netted in a 3-0 win against Cadiz on Sunday (November 26). He's now scored 14 goals in his first 15 games as Los Merengue player.
Bellingham still has a long way to go in matching Ronaldo's historic spell at the Bernabeu though. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner became the first player in history to win five Champions Leagues and did so while at Madrid.
