Mane Dons Ronaldo’s Mantle and Delivers the 1-0 Win in Riyadh’s Ronaldo-Free Showdown
2 February 2026
Senegalese star dons Ronaldo's cloak in Riyadh tonight
Senegalese Sadio Mane, star of Al-Nassr, filled Ronaldo's role in his absence during the Riyadh clash in the league today.
He seized the moment, scoring the lone goal in the 40th minute, benefitting from a magic pass by Portuguese teammate Joao Felix, as Al-Nassr edged ahead against a stubborn defense tonight.
Mane didn't imitate Ronaldo's scoring alone, also mimicking the protests, demanding two penalties, but the referee stood firm and rejected his pleas throughout the match anyway.
After the final whistle Mane kept up the Ronaldo-esque vibe, facing the stands at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium and celebrating with the crowd in the same gesture the Portuguese star once did.
Fans cheered Mane's performance, eager to see Ronaldo return, while observers noted the shift in leadership.
The league table remains tight as Al-Nassr keeps pace with title ambitions.
Punchline 1: Mane borrowed Ronaldo's cape for the day—guess the main act is now the supporting cast.
Punchline 2: Ronaldo's return deadline just moved up; Mane's on a mission, mission accomplished.
