The Stefano Pioli era appears to be off to a great start as Al Nassr continues to uphold its winning spirit. The Knights of the Najd secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al Rayyan in Matchday 2 of the AFC Champions League group stage. Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the players to find the back of the net, but don’t mistake it for an ordinary goal; the Al Nassr skipper highlights its ‘different flavor’ by dedicating it to his dad.

One may question why the Portuguese superstar earmark one of his typical strikes to the man who brought him to this world. Well, it’s because yesterday marked the birthday of Ronaldo’s dad, José Dinis Aveiro. Interestingly, the revelation was made during the post-match presser. While discussing his goal, the veteran said, “Today’s goal has a different flavor and I wish my father was alive because today is his birthday.”

Sadly, José Aveiro isn’t present in this world to witness all of his superstar son’s achievements. Hence it was only logical for Ronaldo to give his last night’s goal a name on behalf of his father’s birthday. That explains his celebration as after scoring his goal in the 75th minute of the game, the former Manchester United superstar ran towards the corner and raised both of his hands in the air while looking at the sky.

His goal proved crucial, as Al Rayyan had managed to break the deadlock in the final minutes of the game. Meanwhile, Sadio Mané had done the early work by scoring the first goal for Al Nassr just before halftime. Notably, this is the first victory for the Saudi Arabian side in the AFC Champions League after their opening group-stage match against Al Shorta ended in a 1-1 draw.

Al Nassr currently standing third with over 4 points in Group B which consists of 12 teams. They would be looking to maintain their spot at least in the top 8 to make it to the next stage of the competition. Regardless, it was a good day at the office for Al Nassr, while for Ronaldo, it was rather an emotional one. This is not just because of the tribute he paid to his father but also because of a shocking revelation regarding his future!

Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t have ‘much time left’ to play!

In a similar press conference, while Cristiano Ronaldo addressed the team’s performance, concerns about his future arose. Interestingly, rather than hesitating to answer the question, he responded confidently in a way that might not please his dedicated fans. “I’m enjoying playing football now and I know I don’t have much time left on the pitch,” said Ronaldo.

This is a tough reality, as the 39-year-old is clearly aware that his playing days are limited. It’s only a matter of time before he officially hangs up his boots. When that moment will come is the million-dollar question that no one can answer. For fans, this update on his future feels like a double emotional blow, as it surely saddens them to hear.