Ronaldo
Ittihad are still in the driver's seat on 59 points, three ahead of Al Nassr, with five games left to play. Ittihad also have the upper hand in the head-to-head record between the sides this season.
With five matches remaining this season, Al-Nassr remain second in the league, three points behind leaders Al-Ittihad having played a game more than their rivals.
Ronaldo celebrated his 197th cap, surpassing Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa, with a double as he returned to the starting line-up for their Group J qualifier at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
"I am sure that in the coming years the league will be ... the fourth, fifth or sixth most competitive league in the world," added Ronaldo, who moved to Al-Nassr on a two-and-a-half-year contract worth a reported 200 million euros ($214.71 million).
Ronaldo, 38, is included in the squad after former Portugal coach Fernando Santos started with him on the bench for the country's last two games at the World Cup in Qatar, where they were knocked out by Morocco in the quarter-finals.
The defeat marked the second match in row in which the 38-year-old Ronaldo failed to find the net, with Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe parrying away a fierce shot from the Portugal superstar in injury time.
Saeed, wreathed in smiles, met the Portuguese forward briefly before the match, giving him a high-five and a big hug.
Al Nassr now top the standings after 15 games, level on 34 points with second-placed Al Shabab but with a match in hand.
Ronaldo departed Old Trafford last month following an explosive television interview in which the 37-year-old forward said he felt betrayed by the club and did not respect their Dutch manager Erik ten Hag.
It is indisputable that Ronaldo is one of the greatest forwards of all time but his latest struggles with Manchester United and Portugal have raised many questions about whether his brilliant career is nearing a bitter end.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in Thursday's 3-0 Europa League win over Sheriff Tiraspol was a fitting prize for his perseverance after the Portuguese forward returned to the team following disciplinary issues.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his return to the starting lineup as they sealed a place in the Europa League knockout rounds with a 3-0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo will not be in their squad for Saturday's Premier League game at Chelsea
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel says he was disappointed by Cristiano Ronaldo's behaviour during the club's 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday and says the Portuguese has become a distraction at Old Trafford.
Seven times reigning winner Lionel Messi was not nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or for the first time since 2005.
The 37-year-old has been among the few bright sparks for United in an otherwise dreadful season under interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
Messi earned $130 million, a figure which includes $55 million of endorsements, during the 12-month period ended May 1, 2022.
The 29-year-old has 30 goals and 14 assists in 44 games for Liverpool this season and remains a key part of Juergen Klopp's team.
Greenwood had been released in January on bail pending further investigations after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault of a woman.
Erik ten Hag will become Manchester United manager next season, tasked with turning around nearly a decade of decline.
Most Read
