RSL around the globe: Ronaldo, Shukurov led international success | OneFootball

There was celebration and heartbreak across the globe as the stars of the Roshn Saudi League turned out for national-team duty in almost every corner of the globe.

Closer to home, Saudi Arabia kept alive their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey with a 2-0 win against Jordan thanks to goals from Musab Al Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al Aboud.

While they were unable to get the five-goal victory required against Australia in Jeddah to seal automatic qualification - the hosts lost 2-1 - Herve Renard’s side enter the Fourth Round as one of the top-ranked teams.

Fortunately, they will give the Green Falcons an advantage as they look to secure one of the final two automatic places available in Asian Qualifiers.

The headline achievement of the international window was that of a Portugal side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruben Neves winning the UEFA Nations League for a second time.

Both RSL stars were instrumental to Portugal’s success, the second time in four editions they have won the Nations League title.

It was Al Nassr’s superstar captain Ronaldo that equalised for the 2019 champions just after the hour mark in the final against Spain in Germany, which forced the game into extra-time and then penalties.

When Alvaro Morata missed for Spain with their fourth spot-kick, the responsibility fell to Neves to take the fifth, and potentially decisive, penalty for Portugal.

Calm and composed as he is for Al Hilal, the star midfielder made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Unai Simon the wrong way and burying it in the bottom left corner to clinch the silverware for his nation.

“It brings great joy,” Ronaldo, who struck the winner in the semi-final against hosts Germany, said of the triumph. “Winning with the national team is always something very special, especially in front of our fans, our country, our family and our children.

“Before the game, at the hotel, I said this generation deserved a major trophy and we were successful. We played against two great teams, but we showed that we are a young and very competitive team - and can play well against any team.”

There was ecstasy, also, for Al Fayha midfielder Otabek Shukurov, who helped Uzbekistan seal their first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup.

The White Wolves entered the final two games of the Third Round of Asian Qualifiers needing a point to punch their ticket to football’s global showpiece - and that came with a 0-0 draw against the UAE in Abu Dhabi.

Uzbekistan then concluded the campaign in style with a 3-0 win at home in Tashkent against Qatar.

Shukurov was reduced to tears after the game in the UAE capital, celebrating with his father in the stands in an extra-special moment for their family.

“My father used to pray for us to go to the World Cup since we were young,” Shukurov later explained on social media.

There wasn’t the same emotion for Iraq, who boasted in their ranks Al Riyadh’s Ibrahim Bayesh and Al Wehda’s Youssef Amyn.

Jordan’s 3-0 win against Oman, coupled with Iraq’s 2-0 defeat at home to South Korea, meant the Gulf side’s chances of automatic qualification were extinguished.

The Lions of Mesopotamia are now required to navigate the Fourth Round, where they will play two matches in a three-team group to decide their fate.

In Europe, there were mixed results for Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney upon his return to the England squad. In their World Cup qualifier against Andorra, the 2024-25 RSL's second top scorer remained on the bench as England laboured to a 1-0 win.

A few days later, back on home turf in Nottingham, Thomas Tuchel’s new side fell to a 3-1 loss at the hands of Senegal, with Toney coming off the bench late but unable to change the outcome.

Disappointment for Toney was delight for Senegal, though, who featured Al Ahli teammate Edouard Mendy in goal, and had Al Hilal’s Kalidou Koulibaly at the heart of defence.

It was a busy period for players representing the current Asian club champions, with Ezgjan Alioski snatching a late equaliser for North Macedonia in World Cup qualifying.

In South America, there were a variety of results across the board. Al Qadsiah’s Nahitan Nandez played both games for Uruguay - a 2-0 defeat to Paraguay and 2-0 win against Venezuela - that leaves his national team only a point shy of qualification with two games to play.

The news wasn’t as good for Al Nassr’s Jhon Duran, however, who could only manage a half in their 0-0 draw with Peru before succumbing to a back injury that saw him sidelined for his team’s 1-1 draw with Argentina.