Cristiano Ronaldo’s team-mate knocks himself unconscious and carried away by medics as celebrations take disastrous turn
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S team-mate Salem Al-Nadji knocked himself unconscious while celebrating the Portuguese veteran’s latest goal.
Al-Nassr were in Asian Champions League action yesterday against Qatari side Al Rayyan.
ReutersCristiano Ronaldo put his side 2-0 up against Al Rayyan[/caption]
Medical staff arrived in a buggy to treat Salem
GettyThe full-back had started the contest before going off in the 35th minute[/caption]
Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane gave the Saudi outfit the lead on the stroke of half-time, heading home from close range after his side had already spurned several big chances.
In the 76th minute, Ronaldo finally joined Mane on the scoresheet with a deadly left-footed effort.
By this point Salem was watching on from the bench, having been substituted in the 35th minute due to an ankle injury.
When Ronaldo put his side 2-0 up, the full-back, 21, jumped out of his seat, hitting his head on the roof of the dugout.
This reportedly caused him to lose consciousness for a few minutes.
Salem was seen to by medical staff and was subsequently taken away on a stretcher.
He then received further assessments in the Al-Nassr dressing room, where it was determined that he would not need to go to hospital.
After the game, Al-Nassr’s former AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli gave an update on his player’s status.
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He said: “The player suffered from high blood pressure and we will follow up on what happens to him.”
After Al-Nassr’s second goal, Al Rayyan pulled themselves back into the contest via Roger Guedes’s 87th minute close range strike.
But the home side held firm to seal all three points.
Ronaldo had missed his side’s last two matches through illness.
His latest goal was his seventh in eight appearances this term.
Since leaving European football he has scored 65 times in 72 outings for Al-Nassr.
After scoring, Ronaldo poignantly pointed to the sky.
Speaking after the game, he said: “Today’s goal has a different flavour… I wish my father was alive because today is his birthday.”
Ronaldo’s dad tragically passed away aged 51 in September 2005.
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The former Manchester United star’s goal also saw his tally in his 30s eclipse the number he bagged in his 20s.
Since turning 30, he has scored 441 goals in 523 games, across spells at Real Madrid, Juventus, Man Utd and Al-Nassr.
In his 20s, he netted 440 times in 596 appearances.
ReutersRonaldo, 39, poignantly pointed to the sky after his latest Al-Nassr goal[/caption]
