Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of winning his first major trophy with Al-Nassr since joining in December 2022, but the race remains tight. With three games left in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr lead second-placed Al-Hilal by five points, though Al-Hilal have a game in hand and are unbeaten in 30 matches under Simone Inzaghi. The two Riyadh rivals meet next Tuesday in a potential title decider.
Some rivals have complained of bias favouring Ronaldo. After a 1-1 draw with Al-Fayha in early April, Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney alleged a referee told him to 'focus on the AFC Champions League', adding: 'It's clear what is being influenced here.' Teammate Galeno posted on X: 'They want to hand the trophy to one person.' Both were fined by the Saudi federation.
Al-Nassr beat Al-Ahli 2-0 in a heated match on 29 April, with Ronaldo scoring his 970th career goal. After the game, Ronaldo criticised the complaints, saying: 'This is not good for the league. Everyone complains... This is football, not a war.' He hinted he would speak at the season's end about 'many bad things' he has witnessed.
Al-Nassr's resurgence is credited to coach Jorge Jesus, who previously led them to a world-record 34-game winning streak. Under Jesus, the team has become more cohesive, though a 3-1 loss to Al-Qadsiah on Sunday ended a 20-match winning run in all competitions. Despite this, Al-Nassr remain in control of the title race.
Off the pitch, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund sold 70% of Al-Hilal to Kingdom Holding Company, a move that aligns with the fund's strategy to diversify investments. A Ronaldo trophy lift would likely be welcomed by authorities as the country pursues its sporting ambitions.
