'Good to be back': Ronaldo takes career tally to 967 in landmark game

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return from a month-long injury layoff by scoring twice in the second half as Al Nassr maintained their winning run with a 5-2 victory over bottom side Al Najma in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

This was a landmark appearance for Ronaldo, as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner marked his 100th appearance in the Saudi Pro League by taking his goal tally in the league to 97 and his career tally to 967.

"It's good to be back. We move forward together," the Portuguese forward wrote in a social media post.

He had been sidelined since February due to a hamstring injury, missing Al Nassr’s previous two league matches and also being ruled out of Portugal national football team friendlies against Mexico national football team and the United States men's national soccer team last month.

Al Najma, who have won only once in 27 league games, took a surprise lead a minute before halftime through Rakan Al Tulayhi.

Al Nassr responded swiftly, with Abdullah Al Hamdan and Sadio Mane scoring in first-half stoppage time to turn the match around.

The visitors drew level two minutes after the restart when Felippe Cardoso struck, but Al Nassr regained control when Ronaldo converted a penalty in the 56th minute.

The 41-year-old added his second in the 73rd minute before Mane sealed the win with a stoppage-time strike.

Al Nassr’s 13th consecutive league victory kept them top of the standings on 70 points, six clear of second-placed Al Hilal, who play Al Taawoun on Saturday.