Saudi League Wrap: Ronaldo and Kante Score, Neymar Struggles on Full Debut

• Neymar Junior struggled on his full debut for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League
• N'Golo Kante and Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr respectively
• Here is a wrap on how the top stars in the SPL performed after the latest fixtures

The Saudi Pro League entered its seventh matchweek as the 2023/2024 season unfolds before our eyes.

The presence of numerous A-list footballers in the Middle Eastern country has demanded attention, shedding light on a league that previously had limited global viewership.

Pioneer of this Saudi football wave, Cristiano Ronaldo donned the Al-Nassr jersey as his team faced a formidable challenge against Al-Ahli, which boasts talents like Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino.

In this recap, Sports Brief examines the performances of these high-profile players as another matchweek concludes.

How top stars performed in SPL

The spotlight shone brightly on the thrilling seven-goal encounter between Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, deemed the weekend's marquee clash as two of the season's title contenders battled it out.

Video: Karim Benzema Scores Remarkable Knee Goal, Sets Saudi Pro League Ablaze

Football

Despite his age, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to dominate headlines for all the right reasons. The 38-year-old netted a sensational brace, leading his side to a 4-3 victory in a spectacular match at Al-Awwal Park, per talkSPORT.

While he earned praise for his heroics, his supporting cast including Sadio Mane, former Inter Milan maestro Marcelo Brozovic, Otavio, Seko Fofana, and Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca, also played vital roles in the win.

On the opposing side, Franck Kessie showcased his impressive form for Al-Ahli by contributing one of their three goals, while Riyad Mahrez converted a penalty.

However, Roberto Firmino, who scored the season's first hat-trick on matchday one, struggled to make an impact against the staunch Al-Nassr defence led by former Manchester City defender, Aymeric Laporte.

In an unusual turn of events, Edouard Mendy - a former FIFA 'The Best Goalkeeper' - conceded four goals, with the smoke from flares possibly affecting his visibility.

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Allan Saint-Maximin, who had scored a remarkable goal on matchday six, remained relatively subdued throughout the match.

Moving away from the action at Al-Awwal Park, attention shifted to the other side of Riyadh, where Neymar Jr. made his first full debut in the Saudi Pro League against Damac, according to MARCA.

Unfortunately, the 31-year-old failed to make a significant impact compared to his cameo appearance at Al-Riyadh, where he provided an assist in Al-Hilal's 6-1 victory.

While Neymar struggled, his Brazilian compatriot, Malcom scored his sixth goal of the campaign, helping the Blue Waves earn a draw with Damac.

Former Lazio stalwart, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly and 2022/23 Europa League winner Yassine Bounou each played the full 90 minutes as Al-Hilal were held to a disappointing draw.

In Jeddah, 2018 World Cup winner, N'Golo Kante stole the headlines by scoring a rare goal, securing three points for Al-Ittihad and propelling them to the top of the table, Planet Football reports.

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Reigning Ballon d'Or holder, Karim Benzema was absent from the matchday squad for the defending champions, but ex-Liverpool and AS Monaco midfielder, Fabinho was a constant force in their midfield.

Another team in pursuit of the early leaders, Al-Ettifaq saw their stars shine as Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa Dembele each scored twice for Steven Gerrard's side in their match against Al Tai.

Despite a heartbreaking loss, Al Tai witnessed their summer signing, Bernard Mensah (formerly of Atletico Madrid) joining the ranks of Saudi League stars by scoring a hat-trick.

Ronaldo responds to critics who called him finished

Sports Brief also reported on Ronaldo finally reacting to his naysayers who called him 'finished' after he switched Europe for the Saudi Pro League.

The 38-year-old has inspired Al-Nassr to an impressive seven-game winning streak across all competitions, setting them as a truly dominant force.