Samu Costa steps into Ronaldo’s spotlight as Al Nassr open with victory

Samu Costa marked his Al Nassr debut by scoring in a 3-0 victory over Al Fateh before leading the club’s supporters in a celebration usually associated with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Al Nassr began their Roshn Saudi League campaign with a convincing win at Al-Awwal Park on Saturday, with Costa coming off the bench in the second half and scoring the home side’s third goal.

The Portuguese midfielder’s strike was his first for Al Nassr and completed the scoring against Al Fateh. His appearance was the first since joining the club, and he made an immediate impact after being introduced following the interval.

Costa then took centre stage again after the final whistle. Standing in front of the Al Nassr supporters at Al-Awwal Park, he enthusiastically exchanged greetings with them in a gesture that closely resembled Ronaldo’s customary celebration at previous matches.

The moment attracted particular attention because Ronaldo was absent from the game. Al Nassr’s Australian manager Ange Postecoglou left the club captain out of the squad because he was not fully fit, although the Portugal forward still attended the match to support his team from the stadium.

Ronaldo has regularly occupied the same position in front of the Al Nassr fans after matches, acknowledging their support and responding to their chants. With the captain unavailable to play, Costa effectively filled that role after helping his side secure three points.

The result places Al Nassr top of the Roshn Saudi League after the opening round. They have three points and lead Al Hilal on goal difference, with Al Hilal dropping into second place following the completion of the first round.

Al Nassr’s three-goal margin gave them the early advantage in the standings, while Costa’s debut provided an additional highlight on an evening shaped by Ronaldo’s absence. Although the captain could not contribute on the pitch, his presence at Al-Awwal Park was still felt, with Costa’s goal and post-match salute offering supporters a familiar celebration to enjoy.