Ronaldo, Amyn, N'Koudou, Maloida headline RSL hits during FIFA break | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to make headlines with goals and records as the Al Nassr captain led the Roshn Saudi League stars who had a major impact during the just-concluded FIFA international break.

The Portugal superstar, already the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football, proved once more that age is seemingly just a number with him, as he struck a double – the second an overhead kick - in his team’s 5-1 UEFA Nations League victory against Poland last Friday.

The brace extended Ronaldo’s international goal record to 135, while in earning his 132nd win with Portugal, he set a new mark for international victories in the men’s game.

On Monday, RSL champions Al Hilal, who currently lead the 2024-25 standings heading into this weekend’s resumption with Matchweek 11, celebrated three of their players captaining their respective national teams: Yassine Bono with Morocco, Aleksandar Mitrovic with Serbia and Joao Cancelo with Portugal. Mitrovic, remember, leads the 2024-25 RSL scoring charts, with 11 goals in 10 matches.

However, the Serbian could not find a breakthrough as his side drew 0-0 with Denmark and thus have to settle for a place in the League A/B play-offs. In contrast, Portugal’s place in the quarter-finals was already booked before their 1-1 draw in Croatia. The game also featured Al Nassr’s Otavio.

Their was more joy for Al Hilal goalkeeper Bono, whose Morocco concluded their CAF Africa Cup of Nations campaign top of Group B and with a 100 percent record after a straightforward 5-1 win against Gabon last Friday and a 7-0 thumping of Lesotho three days later. Morocco had previously booked their place at the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

There was good news, too, for Al Ahli’s Riyad Mahrez, with the winger grabbing the second goal in Algeria’s 5-1 win at home to Liberia on Sunday. Algeria were already assured of top spot in Group E.

In Group J, Damac’s Georges-Kevin N’Koudou starred on Tuesday in Cameroon’s second AFCON qualifier of the break, grabbing an assist and the decisive goal in his team’s 2-1 win against Zimbabwe. The winger’s second goal was made in the RSL, with Al Okhdood forward Christian Bassogog laying on the assist, as Cameroon advanced as unbeaten group winners.

Also in AFCON qualification, Al Kholood forward Myziane Maloida scored the goal to take Comoros into next year’s tournament with the winner in last week’s 2-1 triumph in Gambia. Both he and Al Riyadh’s Faiz Selemani also featured in Monday’s 1-0 win against Madagascar that ensured Comoros qualified as Group A winners.

Musa Barrow, meanwhile, remains in fine form for club and country, the Al Taawoun forward grabbing an assist in each of his appearances for Gambia, including teeing up the winner in the notable 1-0 victory in Tunisia. Barrow returns to the RSL this week on the back of six goals in his past nine appearances for Al Taawoun, who take on Al Wehda on Saturday.

In the AFC Asian Qualifiers, Saudi Arabia marked the beginning to Herve Renard's second stint as manager with a goalless draw in Australia on Thursday before a disappointing 2-0 defeat in Indonesia five days later. The Green Falcons, though, remain one point off an automatic qualification spot in an incredibly tight Group C.

In Group B, Al Wehda starlet Youssef Amyn fired Iraq's bid to make the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the only goal in his side's pivotal 1-0 away win against Oman. As it is, Iraq sit second in the standings with four matches remaining, three points off South Korea in top spot and two ahead of third-placed Jordan.

And, finally, over in CONCACAF in the early hours of Tuesday, Al Ettifaq’s Demarai Gray scored twice for Jamaica albeit in the 4-2 Nations League quarter-final defeat to the USA.