Ronaldo Nears 1000 Goals with Spectacular Arabic Celebration
Cristiano Ronaldo moved closer to his coveted 1000-goal milestone during Al-Nassr’s 2-1 victory over Al-Fayha, scoring his 951st and 952nd career goals in spectacular fashion. The Portuguese superstar celebrated with an unexpected traditional Arabic dance performance while wearing an igāl headpiece.
Match Highlights: Al-Nassr’s Comeback Victory
The match began with Al-Fayha taking an early lead when Spaniard Jason opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Kingsley Coman appeared to equalize for Al-Nassr, but his goal was disallowed. However, the French forward redeemed himself by setting up Ronaldo for the equalizer at 37 minutes.
Ronaldo completed the comeback in dramatic fashion, waiting until stoppage time to convert a penalty at 90+6 minutes. The victory marked Al-Nassr’s seventh consecutive win in the Saudi Professional League, maintaining their perfect record.
The Celebration That Stole the Show
The remarkable performance deserved an equally memorable celebration. Ronaldo and teammate João Félix staged an impressive display of cultural appreciation. First, Félix ceremoniously crowned Ronaldo with the traditional igāl headpiece.
Then, wearing the traditional headwear, Ronaldo performed a traditional Arabic dance in front of the cheering crowds. The celebration showcased beautiful cultural integration and respect for local traditions.
Al-Nassr’s Dominant League Position
After seven matches in the Saudi league, Al-Nassr remains undefeated and sits comfortably at the top of the table. The team has collected 100% of possible points and maintains a three-point lead over second-place Al-Taawoun.
The club expressed immense gratitude toward their star player through social media, posting: “This is more than tradition… This is heritage. When the igāl rises, the nation becomes higher. When pressure grows, Ronaldo becomes stronger. Two goals, one MVP.”
Understanding the Igāl: Traditional Arabic Headwear
What exactly is an igāl? This traditional Arabic accessory consists of a double woolen cord, typically black in color, designed to secure the keffiyeh (traditional male headscarf) in place. Most people have seen the igāl and keffiyeh together but may not have known their proper names.
The igāl represents a more casual element of traditional dress compared to the bisht – the cloak worn by Lionel Messi after the 2022 World Cup final. Ronaldo needs 48 more goals to reach his historic 1000-goal milestone – perhaps then he might celebrate wearing both the bisht and complete traditional headwear.
