Eight months since his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo secured his inaugural title with Al-Nassr. Orchestrating a late-game turnaround against Al-Hilal to clinch the Arab Champions Cup, the 5x Ballon d’Or winner propelled a historic first for the club. Regrettably, after their momentous victory in Asia, the championship’s non-recognition by FIFA is casting a shadow over their achievement.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s journey to victory was not without adversity. Amidst the joy of his two decisive goals that drove a ten-man Al-Nassr to a 2-1 triumph over Al-Hilal in the Arab Club Champions Cup 2023 final, he had to leave the field prematurely due to a knee injury, causing concern among fans and teammates.

The Unrecognized Championship

Arab Champions Cup, colloquially known as the King Salman Club Cup, is an event overseen by the UAFA (Union of Arab Football Associations). While UAFA is the official governing body for soccer in Arab countries, it stands unrecognized by FIFA. After Al Nassr victory a fan in twitter wrote, “Al Nassr FC wins the Arab Clubs Championship for the first time in its history #Cristiano. The UAFA is an official body but not recognized by FIFA.”

Established in 1981, this tournament has undergone name and format changes over the years. The distinction between UAFA’s recognition and FIFA’s oversight casts a cloud over Al-Nassr’s hard-fought victory, which was achieved within the framework of a non-FIFA-sanctioned championship.

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Interestingly, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had showered praise upon Cristiano Ronaldo in the aftermath of his milestone achievement.

Praise Amidst Controversy, Ronaldo’s Dominance Continues

Ronaldo’s remarkable feat of scoring in 22 consecutive seasons earned him Infantino’s admiration. The FIFA president shared an Instagram post praising the Portuguese star.

With his scintillating performance in the Arab Cup of Champions final, Ronaldo not only propelled Al-Nassr to victory but also secured the tournament’s top scorer title by netting six times. This achievement further cements his reputation as a prolific scorer. In 25 matches for Al-Nassr, he contributed 20 goals and three assists, underlining his enduring excellence on the field. CR7 joined Al-Nassr for free in January 2023 and now looks forward to his first full season with the Saudi Pro League club.

As Ronaldo’s goal-scoring journey persists into his late 30s. The football world watches with anticipation, wondering how much longer his exceptional records will endure.

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