Cristiano Ronaldo Inspires Al Nassr to Saudi pro League Title
Cristiano Ronaldo was reduced to tears of joy as his spectacular second-half double secured a 4-1 victory over Damac, clinching Al-Nassr’s first Saudi Pro League title since 2019.
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The 41-year-old Portuguese icon finally ended his three-year wait for a major league triumph in the Middle East on a dramatic final day of the season at Al-Awwal Park. Knowing only a win would guarantee the title ahead of fierce rivals Al-Hilal, Jorge Jesus’ side delivered a commanding performance to finish on 86 points, two clear at the summit.
Saudi League
Ronaldo, who now heads to the 2026 World Cup with Portugal on a massive high, was the undeniable driving force, extending his astonishing career goals tally to 974. Following the final whistle, the veteran forward led a raucous drum celebration with the Al-Nassr ultras, capping off a deeply emotional evening in Riyadh.
The hosts dictated the tempo from the outset, settling their nerves when they broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. Sadio Mané latched onto a sharp passing move to fire past the Damac goalkeeper. Six minutes into the second half, French winger Kingsley Coman doubled the advantage, seemingly putting the result beyond doubt for the expectant home crowd.
However, relegation-threatened Damac briefly threatened to spoil the party. In the 57th minute, Morlaye Sylla converted a penalty following a clumsy challenge in the box. With news filtering through that Al-Hilal were winning their simultaneous fixture against Al-Fayha—a scenario that would have cost Al-Nassr the title on head-to-head record if they drew—the tension inside the stadium became palpable.
Cometh the hour, cometh the captain. Just five minutes after Damac’s lifeline, Ronaldo restored the two-goal cushion with a trademark, stunning free-kick that arrowed into the top corner. In the 80th minute, he put the seal on the victory, and the championship, finishing clinically from close range to notch his 28th league goal of the campaign.
Substituted in the closing stages to a deafening standing ovation, Ronaldo was visibly overwhelmed on the bench, burying his face in his hands as the tears flowed. His arrival in January 2023 triggered a seismic shift in Saudi football, but domestic supremacy had repeatedly eluded him through narrow misses and cup final heartbreaks until this triumphant night.
While Al-Hilal did their part by dispatching Al-Fayha, the two-point deficit proved insurmountable, ending their recent dominance and allowing Al-Nassr to lift the coveted trophy.
