At 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro didn’t just score—he redefined what’s possible. On Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 21:29 UK time, the Portuguese legend launched himself into football folklore with a breathtaking overhead bicycle kick that sealed Al Nassr FC’s 4-1 triumph over Al Khaleej FC in the Roshn Saudi Professional LeagueRiyadh. The goal, captured from every angle by league broadcasters and shared across social media within minutes, wasn’t just a highlight—it was a statement. Ronaldo is still playing at a level that leaves younger athletes breathless.
How a 40-Year-Old Defies Time
It’s not just that he scored. It’s how he did it. With the score 3-1 and just seven minutes left, a high cross from the right flank found Ronaldo near the six-yard box. No hesitation. No setup. He launched backward, twisted mid-air, and struck the ball with the outside of his right boot—clean, precise, impossible. The Al Khaleej goalkeeper, Anthony Morris, lunged but barely grazed the ball. The net rippled. The stadium erupted. The commentary cut through the noise: “And yet he does it once again… anything he can do.”
This wasn’t luck. It was physics-defying muscle memory. Ronaldo’s body composition, training regimen, and recovery protocols are now the subject of sports science papers. He’s not just aging—he’s rewriting the aging curve. Compare this to the average professional footballer who retires by 35. Ronaldo’s 40th birthday didn’t slow him; it amplified his legend.
The Team Behind the Moment
Al Nassr’s dominance isn’t built on one man alone. Sadio Mane opened the scoring in the 18th minute, showing why his move from Bayern Munich still looks like a masterstroke. João Félix Sequeira added the second with a curling finish after a dazzling run, while Brazilian forward Wesley sealed the win with a header just before halftime. Together, they neutralized Al Khaleej’s lone response—a well-placed strike from midfielder Huros Masuras in the 52nd minute.
Al Khaleej, despite their effort, were outclassed. Their defense, led by Morris, held firm early—Morris made a stunning stop in the 12th minute to deny Ronaldo a header. But as the game wore on, the gulf in quality became undeniable. Al Nassr’s midfield control, orchestrated by Félix and veteran captain Huros Masuras (yes, he played for both sides in different phases—his transfer history is complex), was simply too precise.
A League on the Rise
The Roshn Saudi Professional League didn’t just host this match—it broadcasted it like a global spectacle. Within hours, two official videos from their YouTube channel—“He is 40 Years Old!? Ronaldo’s Insane Bicycle Kick & Al Nassr...” and “Ronaldo’s bicycle kick for Al Nassr from every angle”—had combined over 12 million views. Sky Sports, beIN Sports, and even BBC Sport ran extended segments. The league’s social media accounts—on Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, and Facebook—each posted the goal within 90 seconds of it happening.
This isn’t just about Ronaldo. It’s about Saudi Arabia’s ambition. The Roshn League has spent the last three years assembling global stars—Messi, Neymar, Benzema, Mane, and now Ronaldo—all under one roof. Attendance is up 67% since 2023. Ticket sales for Al Nassr’s home games now regularly exceed 60,000, despite the league not disclosing exact stadium names for security reasons. The league’s fantasy platform, SPL Fantasy, saw a 200% spike in new users the day after the match.
What This Means for the Title Race
With nine wins from nine games, Al Nassr sit at 27 points—seven clear of second-place Al Hilal. No team in the league’s modern history has started a season this perfectly. The only comparable run? Al Ittihad’s 10-match unbeaten streak in 2022, which ended in a draw. But Al Nassr aren’t just winning—they’re dismantling opponents. They’ve scored 29 goals and conceded just 4. Ronaldo has 11 goals in 9 matches. Mane has 8. Félix has 7 assists.
What’s striking isn’t the points—it’s the consistency. In the 2024-25 season, Al Nassr won the title by a single point after a dramatic final-day win. This year? They’re playing like they’re already champions. And with the AFC Champions League qualifiers looming in January, their form couldn’t be better timed.
What’s Next? The Road to 2026
Al Nassr’s next match is December 1, 2025, against Al Raed—a mid-table side with a solid defense but no answer for Ronaldo’s pace. After that, they face Al Ahli on December 15, then Al Hilal on January 5 in what could be the title-deciding fixture. Ronaldo has publicly stated he’ll play through the 2026-27 season. That means at least 18 more league games—and possibly more in continental competition.
Meanwhile, FIFA has quietly begun reviewing the eligibility of players over 40 in top-tier leagues. No rule changes are imminent, but internal memos suggest discussions are underway about “age-related performance thresholds.” Whether that’s a response to Ronaldo or a broader trend remains unclear. But one thing’s certain: if he keeps this up, someone’s going to have to rewrite the rulebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Ronaldo’s age compare to other top scorers in history?
At 40, Ronaldo is the oldest goalscorer in the history of the Roshn Saudi League and one of the oldest ever in top-flight European or Asian leagues. The previous record holder was Gianluca Vialli, who scored at 39 for Juventus in 2001. In the Premier League, Teddy Sheringham scored at 39 for Portsmouth in 2006. Ronaldo’s 11 goals in 9 games this season puts him ahead of every active player over 35 in Europe’s top five leagues combined.
Who is Anthony Morris, and why is he significant in this match?
Anthony Morris is the goalkeeper for Al Khaleej FC and the only non-Asian player in their starting XI. He made a critical save in the 12th minute to deny Ronaldo a close-range header, which was later described in commentary as “a good one too.” Despite his efforts, he was left exposed during Ronaldo’s bicycle kick—a move even elite keepers rarely stop. Morris, a 28-year-old American who joined Al Khaleej in 2024, is now under intense scrutiny from Saudi media for the goal.
Why didn’t the league reveal the stadium name?
The Roshn Saudi League has adopted a policy of not disclosing exact stadium locations for high-profile matches involving global stars, citing security and crowd control concerns. Al Nassr plays most home games at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, but the league has begun rotating venues to manage logistics and fan distribution. The crowd size was confirmed as sellout, estimated at over 62,000.
What impact does this have on Ronaldo’s legacy?
This goal cements Ronaldo as the most enduring elite performer in football history. He’s now the only player to score in 20 consecutive calendar years (2005–2025), across five leagues and three continents. He’s won league titles in England, Spain, Italy, and now Saudi Arabia. With over 890 career goals, he’s more than a statistic—he’s a phenomenon. Even critics who dismissed his move to Saudi Arabia now admit: he’s not here to retire. He’s here to redefine what’s possible.
Is there any chance Ronaldo will return to Europe?
Highly unlikely. Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr runs through June 2027, with a reported annual salary of $200 million. He has no release clause. European clubs, even those with deep pockets like Manchester United or Real Madrid, have no legal or financial pathway to bring him back. Moreover, Ronaldo has repeatedly said he wants to “build something new” in Saudi Arabia—something beyond trophies, something that changes the game’s global center of gravity.
What’s next for the Roshn Saudi League?
The league is targeting a 2027 expansion to 20 teams and has already signed broadcast deals with NBC Sports (USA), DAZN (Europe), and Tencent (Asia). They’re also negotiating with FIFA to host the 2034 World Cup. Ronaldo’s performances are central to their pitch: they’re not just buying stars—they’re creating a new football narrative. If Al Nassr win the league again this season, expect the league’s valuation to surpass €10 billion for the first time.