Al Nassr beats Toulouse in a friendly with João Félix’s debut and Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal
Al Nassr defeated Toulouse 2–1 in a preseason friendly on Wednesday (30), with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohammed Maran and the much-anticipated debut of João Félix.
Ronaldo on the Scoresheet as Félix Impresses on Debut
The Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo equalized in the 32nd minute after a low cross from Wesley, pushing the ball into the net to cancel out an earlier strike by Yann Gboho for the French side. Mohammed Maran later netted the winner for the Saudi club.
While Ronaldo delivered as expected, the spotlight was equally shared with João Félix, who made his first appearance for Al Nassr after completing a €30 million transfer earlier in the week.
João Félix Starts and Shows Promise in 59 Minutes
Félix, who was officially unveiled on Tuesday (29), started the match and played 59 minutes, showing flashes of the flair that made him one of Europe’s most exciting prospects. He recorded a 78% pass completion rate, created several attacking sequences, and earned a free kick after a slick dribble.
According to data from Sofascore, the 24-year-old earned a match rating of 6.6, in what is expected to be the first of many starts alongside a star-studded frontline including Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and Wesley.
João Félix’s Career: A New Chapter in Saudi Arabia
The move to Al Nassr marks a major shift for Félix, who has spent the past few seasons on loan across Europe. After a 44-game spell at Barcelona in 2023/24 where he scored 10 goals and provided 6 assists, Félix also played for Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, and most recently Milan, where he scored 3 goals in 21 appearances during the 2024/25 season.
Career stats since 2022:
2022/23
- Atlético Madrid: 20 games, 5 goals, 3 assists
- Chelsea: 20 games, 4 goals
2023/24
- Barcelona: 44 games, 10 goals, 6 assists
2024/25
- Chelsea: 20 games, 7 goals, 2 assists
- Milan: 21 games, 3 goals
Now under the spotlight in Saudi Arabia, Félix aims to relaunch his career with regular starts and high expectations from both fans and club executives.
Al Nassr Continue Preseason with Eyes on Silverware
Al Nassr’s ambitious preseason continues as they prepare for the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League campaign and continental competitions. With the likes of Ronaldo, Mané, and now Félix, the squad is one of the most talked-about outside Europe.
