The wait is finally over for Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. After more than three seasons of near-misses and relentless scrutiny, the Portuguese icon has guided Al Nassr to their first Saudi Pro League title since 2019, sparking wild celebrations at Alawwal Park after a dramatic final day.
Needing a victory on the final matchday to guarantee the championship and fend off a relentless chase from rivals Al Hilal, Al Nassr delivered under pressure with a commanding 4-1 victory over Damac. Fittingly, it was Ronaldo who took center stage, scoring a crucial brace to ensure the trophy returned to Riyadh.
The Final Day Drama
The equation ahead of kickoff was simple for the league leaders: win and lift the trophy. Any dropped points would have allowed unbeaten Al Hilal to steal the crown at the absolute death.
While the opening exchanges carried the tense, nervous energy typical of a title decider, Al Nassr’s star power ultimately overwhelmed their opponents. Sadio Mané broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, settling nerves and allowing the hosts to regain their trademark rhythm. Shortly after the halftime interval, Kingsley Coman doubled the advantage, putting the title firmly within arms’ reach.
A brief moment of panic swept through the stadium when Damac converted a penalty through Morlaye Sylla in the 57th minute after a VAR review penalised Mohamed Simakan for a handball. However, any hopes of a dramatic collapse were swiftly extinguished by the team’s captain.
In the 62nd minute, Ronaldo stepped up to strike a brilliant free-kick, beating the goalkeeper to restore a two-goal cushion. He wasn’t finished there. In the 81st minute, the 41-year-old met a precise delivery from Coman to hammer home his second of the evening, putting the result completely beyond doubt before being substituted to a thunderous standing ovation.
Breaking the Al Hilal Dominance
This title marks a monumental shift in the Saudi football landscape. Since Ronaldo’s game-changing arrival in early 2023, Al Nassr had repeatedly fallen short in the domestic league, forced to watch Al Hilal dominate the silverware.
Throughout the campaign, the battle at the top was relentless. Al Nassr built their charge on an incredible mid-season run that included a 16-match domestic winning streak. Even when a shock 3-1 defeat to Al-Qadsiah in early May threatened to derail their season, they held their nerve, securing a crucial 1-1 draw in the Riyadh derby against Al Hilal to keep destiny in their own hands.
Supported by a stellar supporting cast including João Félix—who acted as the creative engine of the side—and a solid defensive partnership featuring Íñigo Martínez and Aymeric Laporte, Ronaldo finally has the domestic league crown he was brought to Riyadh to achieve. With yet another major trophy added to his legendary cabinet, the CR7 era in Saudi Arabia has officially reached its golden peak.
