Cristiano Ronaldo's Brace Inspires Al Nassr To Win The Arab Club Champions Cup After A 2-1 Win Against Al Hilal.

 Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace to help Al-Nassr win the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup title for the first time in history.

Al-Nassr came from behind at the King Fahd Stadium, to beat fellow Saudi side Al-Hilal 2-1 on Saturday, despite finishing with nine men after extra time.

Ronaldo was the man to score both goals for Al Nassr after former Barcelona and Zenit winger Malcom crossed for fellow Brazilian Michael Delgado to head in the opener, giving the AFC Champions League finalists Al Hilal an early lead in the second half (51 mins). He hit the 'SIU' celebration against Ronaldo in a ruthless moment.

Abdulelah Al Amri was sent off with a straight Red card in the 71st minute, leaving Al-Nassr trailing with 10-men.

Although Ronaldo turned in a low cross by right-back Sultan Al-Ghannam to equalise on the 74 minute.

Nawaf Boushal also received another straight red card in the 78th minute, further reducing Al-Nassr down to nine men, as Al-Nassr held on to a 1-1 draw at full-time, sending to game to extra time.

However, Captain Ronaldo inspired his side to a victory eight minutes into extra time having pounced on a rebound off the crossbar with keeper Mohammed Alowais off his line to head home the eventual winner.

It was his sixth goal in six games in the tournament, which included the top clubs from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.

He finished has the highest goal scorer winning the Golden Boot for the Arab Club Champions Cup, becoming the first Al Nassr player to achieve such milestone.

However, Ronaldo was carted off with an injury just five minutes left following a collision, and was replaced by Ali Al-Hassan.

Speaking after the game via his social media page, Ronaldo said; "Extremely proud to helped the team winning this important trophy for the 1st time! 

"Thank you to everyone in the club that was involved in this great achievement and to my familly and friends for always being by my side!

"Fantastic support by our fans!This also belongs to you!💛💙

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, scored goals against US Monastir and Zamalek in the group stages. And then the Portugal star scored again in their 3-1 win over Raja Casablanca in the quarter-finals, and the winner against Al Shorta in the semifinal. And it was Ronaldo again with a brace in the Final to win the trophy for Luis Castro's, who lift their maiden Arab Champions Cup title.

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Cristiano Ronaldo has won the World Cup. 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/2DeW1L4RqY

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 12, 2023

It was his first trophy for the Saudi outfit. It's the latest trophy in the 38-year-old cabinet, having won league titles in England, Spain and Italy not to mention the Champions League. 

The former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus forward agreed a move to the Saudi Pro League in December and helped his side finish as league runners-up last season, behind champions Al-Ittihad.

Several more big names have followed him to Saudi Arabia this summer, including, Karim Benzema, Édouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kanté e..tc, and new team-mates Sadio Mane, Seko Fofana and Marcelo Brozovic.

Al Nassr focus will now shift to the Saudi Pro League which has started today. Al Nassr play their first match against Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq on Monday (Aug 14).