Cristiano Ronaldo ended his prolonged wait to secure the Saudi Pro League title, netting a brace as Al-Nassr triumphed over Damac 4-1 on Thursday night. The Portuguese superstar, who joined the club in January 2023 on a lucrative deal, had previously only won the Arab Club Champions Cup with Al-Nassr.
Road to the Title
Al-Nassr missed an earlier opportunity to seal the championship earlier this month after conceding a bizarre own goal in stoppage time, drawing 1-1 with title rivals Al-Hilal. Ronaldo, who earns £488,000 per day in Saudi Arabia, then saw his side lose to Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final. However, they finally crossed the finish line with a dominant victory over Damac, finishing two points clear of Al-Hilal.
Match Highlights
Sadio Mane opened the scoring for Al-Nassr in the first half, and Kingsley Coman doubled their advantage after the break. Damac pulled one back in the 57th minute, but Ronaldo eased any nerves with a stunning free kick from the left wing just past the hour mark. He then sealed the win with a close-range finish in the 80th minute, securing a 4-1 victory and the league title.
Al-Nassr had not won their domestic league since 2019, having finished second, second, and third in Ronaldo's three previous campaigns at the club. Ronaldo ended the season with 28 league goals, trailing only Julian Quinones and Ivan Toney.
Celebrations and Controversy
After the triumph, Ronaldo was joined on the pitch by his fiancée Georgina Rodriguez and their children. The Saudi Pro League season was not without controversy, with Ronaldo going on strike in February over alleged preferential treatment to title rivals Al-Hilal after they signed Karim Benzema. He eventually returned to action. In April, Al-Ahli forward Ivan Toney criticized officiating standards, suggesting the league was trying to help Ronaldo win the title.
Ronaldo now turns his attention to Portugal's national team, as he prepares for his sixth—and likely final—World Cup campaign.
