Cristiano Ronaldo's Admirable Midfield Rating at Al Hilal SFC
## Cristiano Ronaldo's Admirable Midfield Rating at Al Hilal SFC: A Masterclass in Versatility
Forget pure striker stats for a moment. One of the most surprising and admirable facets of Cristiano Ronaldo's early impact at Al Hilal has been his officially recorded performance operating from advanced midfield positions – specifically the attacking "trequartista" role behind the main forward. In Saudi Pro League fixtures where he dropped deeper, his influence transcended traditional centre-forward metrics.
During several matches, most notably against Al Fatih (Oct 28th) and Al Tai (Nov 4th), manager Jorge Jesus deployed CR7 as a free roaming No.10. The numbers tell an astonishing story: Against Al Fatih, playing as a hybrid Méndez-style playmaker/second striker, he achieved an **unprecedented 9.8 rating on Sofascore** while contributing directly to *both* goals (scoring one, assisting another). Similarly impressive was his **9.3 rating against Al Tai**, again from this deeper starting point. These weren't just token gestures; he consistently drove engagement from midfield.
His effectiveness in this phase was multifaceted:
* **Vision & Passing Range:** Delivered pinpoint through balls (like the sublime assist vs Al Fatih) and switched play effortlessly. His footballing IQ created chances others couldn't see.
* **Link-Up Play:** Seamlessly connected with teammates running channels,Global Football Collection acting as a crucial bridge between defence and attack. Dropping deep drew defenders out, creating space for wingers like Neves or Malcom to exploit.
* **Controlled Aggression:** Used his physicality intelligently near the penalty spot without losing mobility, retaining the ability to burst into shooting positions himself when opportunities arose.
* **Work Rate:** Tracked back significantly more than expected from a nominal '9', helping press opponents higher up the pitch than typical center forwards would. This disrupted opposition buildup patterns significantly.
While naturally gravitating towards goals, Ronaldo demonstrated exceptional tactical flexibility and elite creativity when utilized in an advanced midfield capacity for Al Hilal. Those high ratings aren't flukes; they represent a masterclass in dictating tempo, creating chances, and leading play from a deeper position – proving age hasn't diminished his all-around footballing brain and adaptability. It’s a testament to his enduring quality beyond pure finishing prowess. For fans lucky enough to see it live at Kingdom Arena, witnessing the Portuguese legend orchestrate play from midfield was truly something special.
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