The key facts

  • The AFC Champions League match in Riyadh was delayed by an hour due to a rocket alert; the coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile
  • Al-Nassr beat Neftchi 3:1; Ronaldo's goal brought his career tally to 981
  • According to Saudi authorities, Houthi attacks on the airport over the weekend killed 14 people; the airport is closed

Alert and Match Delay

A warning from Saudi Arabia's civil defense service appeared about 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the Al-Nassr — Neftchi (Fergana) match in the AFC Champions League Elite at Alawwal Park stadium. Players remained in the locker rooms, spectators in the stands. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at the capital. Later, civil defense reported the danger had passed; the kickoff was delayed by an hour.

The Match and Ronaldo's Gesture

Al-Nassr beat Uzbek side Neftchi 3:1. Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring; in the second half Alisher Odilov reduced the deficit, then the visitors were left a man down after a sending-off and scored an own goal. This was Al-Nassr's first win in the competition after a 0:4 defeat to Al-Ain in the opening round. The 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 42nd minute, bringing his career tally to 981 goals — 19 short of the thousand mark. After the match he draped a scarf with the Saudi flag over his shoulders, applauding the fans together with his teammates, and before the game he kissed the state emblem on his jersey. The club posted on its Arabic-language X account a quote from his June 2025 interview: 'I am Portuguese, but I belong to Saudi Arabia.' Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January 2023 and extended his contract until 2027.

Airport Attacks and Context

According to Saudi authorities, Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport over the weekend killed 14 people: 13 after Saturday's strike, in which more than 300 people were hurt, and one more on Sunday, when 11 were injured. The airport remains closed. Unnamed Saudi officials told The Associated Press that an investigation is determining how missiles and drones breached the kingdom's air defenses. Fighting has resumed in Yemen after four years of relative calm: forces supporting the internationally recognized government launched an offensive at the start of the month, backed by Saudi Arabia, against the Iran-backed Houthis. Al-Ahli Saudi FC defender Merih Demiral expressed condolences at a press conference on Sunday, calling Saudi Arabia his second homeland: 'My thoughts, prayers and heart are with them.'