Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Cristiano Ronaldo lifted his first Saudi Pro League trophy on Thursday, scoring twice as Al Nassr thrashed Damac 4-1 on the final day of the season to win the club’s first league crown in seven years and end his own five‑year wait for a major club title.
The title race went down to the wire. Al Nassr led the standings for most of the campaign but suffered a heartbreaking 98th‑minute own‑goal equaliser against city rivals Al Hilal a week earlier, leaving them with only a two‑point cushion. Al Hilal began the final round with a 1‑0 win over Al Fayha, putting the pressure on the Yellow and Blue. Needing only a victory of their own at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Al Nassr delivered.
Al Nassr dominated possession from the outset. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when João Félix swung in a corner and Sadio Mané rose highest to power a header past the goalkeeper, sending the home side into the break with a 1‑0 lead. The crowd sensed history.
Any hopes of a Damac comeback were dealt an early blow in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Kingsley Coman received a pass from Abdullah Al Khaibari, drove forward and unleashed a fierce left‑footed strike into the bottom corner to double the advantage.
Damac briefly revived the contest when Morlaye Sylla converted a penalty in the 58th minute, cutting the deficit to 2‑1. But Ronaldo quickly extinguished any hope. In the 63rd minute, the 41‑year‑old curled a trademark free kick from a tight angle into the far corner to restore the two‑goal cushion. He then completed his brace in the 81st minute, reacting first to a loose clearance inside the box and smashing a powerful finish into the roof of the net to make it 4‑1.
After his second goal, Ronaldo was caught on camera in tears as he pointed to supporters in the crowd. He was substituted to a huge ovation with minutes left and was seen weeping on the bench alongside his teammates.
The victory lifted Al Nassr to 86 points, two ahead of cross‑town rivals Al Hilal, who finished the season undefeated. Al Nassr finished with 28 wins, just two draws and four defeats, scoring 91 goals and conceding only 28 for a remarkable +63 goal difference. Ronaldo finished the league campaign with 28 goals in 30 appearances, and his brace took his career tally to 973 goals.
As Al Nassr players gathered around the podium after the match, Ronaldo stepped forward to receive his medal and then lifted the trophy high into the air. He carried it toward the centre of the group, where teammates surrounded him before hoisting the championship together as gold confetti, chants and screams filled the stadium. On social media, Ronaldo posted a video of the team with the notation: “It means so much to us. Yalla Nassr!”(Arabic for “Come on, Al Nassr”) and added a separate post with the single word “CHAMPIONS!!!!!”. The club’s official account also posted a video of Ronaldo beating a drum in delight, with the caption: “Tonight, he is the celebration”.
The victory ended Ronaldo’s longest club trophy drought, his last major club title having been the Coppa Italia with Juventus in 2021. Since arriving in Saudi Arabia in January 2023, he had endured painful near misses in domestic and continental competitions, including last week’s AFC Champions League Two final defeat to Gamba Osaka.
The five‑time Ballon d’Or winner has now won league championships in Portugal, England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia—a continental spread unmatched in the modern game. With 973 career goals, Ronaldo continues his march toward the 1,000‑goal milestone. Later this month, he is expected to lead Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which would mark his sixth appearance at the tournament.
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