Cristiano Ronaldo finally captured his first Saudi Pro League title with Al Nassr after the Riyadh giants sealed a dramatic 4-1 victory over Damac FC on the final day of the season on Thursday.
Heading into the final fixture on the league season, Al Nassr knew only a victory would safely guarantee the championship with fierce rivals Al Hilal breathing down their necks in one of the closest title races in recent Saudi football history.
The pressure, however, barely showed as Jorge Jesus’ side delivered a ruthless display to clinch the club’s 11th Saudi Pro League crown and their first league triumph since the 2018/19 campaign.
Ronaldo rose to the occasion with a brilliant brace after the break, while Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman also found the net to complete a dominant performance that sent Al Nassr supporters into wild celebrations.
The result ensured Al Nassr finished two points ahead of Al Hilal, who also beat Al Fayha 1-0 simultaneously, ending the 2023/24 champions’ hopes of retaining the title and capping off a remarkable campaign that went down to the final whistle of the season.
Ronaldo Leads Al Nassr’s Charge to Glory
For Ronaldo, the title carries special significance after two previous seasons of frustration since his blockbuster move to Saudi Arabia in January 2023.
The Portuguese superstar arrived with enormous expectations and has now delivered the ultimate domestic prize to the club’s supporters.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was central to Al Nassr’s success throughout the campaign, producing 30 goal contributions in the league.
Ronaldo scored 28 goals and added two assists, underlining his importance despite turning 41 earlier this year. Although he finished behind Mexican Julian Quinones and Ivan Toney in the race for the Golden Boot, the veteran forward made it clear the team achievement mattered far more than individual accolades.“It’s an incredible feeling to win the league after years of coming close. This victory is for the fans who believed we can,” Ronaldo said emotionally following the final whistle as jubilant Al Nassr players celebrated with supporters inside a packed stadium.
The triumph also adds another chapter to Ronaldo’s extraordinary career, with the Saudi Pro League becoming the fourth different domestic championship he has won.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has now claimed league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia.
Beyond the silverware, Ronaldo continues to edge closer to one of football’s most astonishing milestones. His latest brace moved his official career tally to 972 goals, leaving him just 28 strikes away from becoming the first professional footballer to score 1,000 career goals.
The Portuguese icon has also now amassed 37 major trophies during a glittering career spanning more than two decades, reinforcing his status as one of the game’s most decorated players.
For Al Nassr, the title victory could mark the beginning of a new era of dominance after years of watching rivals enjoy success domestically. Backed by world-class talent and inspired by Ronaldo’s relentless drive, the club showed resilience under intense pressure during the closing weeks of the campaign.
The dramatic finale to the season further highlighted the growing competitiveness and global appeal of the Saudi Pro League, which has attracted some of football’s biggest names in recent years.
But on a night filled with tension, celebration and history, the spotlight belonged firmly to Ronaldo, whose hunger for success continues to defy both age and expectation.
He has been named in the Portugal squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and he is expected to feature in his sixth Mundial.
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