Cristiano Ronaldo finally lifted the Saudi Pro League trophy with Al-Nassr after the Riyadh club defeated Damac FC 4-1 on the final day of the season.
The Portuguese star scored twice to secure Al-Nassr’s first league title since 2019 and end a wait that lasted more than three years after his arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 after leaving Manchester United in one of the biggest transfers in football history.
Saudi Arabia viewed the move as a major statement aimed at placing the kingdom at the centre of global sport.
Despite scoring 129 goals across all competitions and recently reaching 100 Saudi Pro League goals, Ronaldo had failed to win a major domestic title until now.
The championship marks the eighth league title of Ronaldo’s career after earlier triumphs in England, Spain and Italy with Real Madrid and Juventus.
Saudi Football Project Gets Major Boost
Ronaldo’s arrival triggered a flood of international signings into Saudi football.
Stars including Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Neymar later joined Saudi clubs as the country accelerated investment in sport.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took control of the so called “Big Four” clubs including Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad.
This season produced one of the closest title races in recent Saudi football history.
For weeks, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal battled for the championship after Al-Ahli and Al-Qadsiah dropped behind late in the season.
Their decisive clash on May 12 ended dramatically in a 1-1 draw after Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento spilled a stoppage time catch into his own net.
The result delayed the title race until the final day, where Ronaldo and Al-Nassr completed the job convincingly.
“Officials in Riyadh will likely see an Al-Nassr triumph as vindication of both Ronaldo’s signing and of the decision to keep the club under PIF ownership,” sports business expert Simon Chadwick told the BBC.
Questions Remain Over Saudi Football Future
The season also brought controversy and growing questions around Saudi Arabia’s wider sports strategy.
In February, Ronaldo reportedly missed league matches amid concerns over how club authorities managed Al-Nassr compared with rivals.
Some players, including former Brentford striker Ivan Toney, accused officials of favouring Ronaldo and Al-Nassr.
“I think this is not good for the league. Everyone complains. This is football, this is not a war,” Ronaldo said earlier this season.
Saudi Arabia has also faced setbacks in golf, winter sports and tennis projects during recent months.
Still, analysts believe Ronaldo’s title could revive momentum around the Saudi Pro League at a time when transfer hype has slowed compared with 2023.
For now, Al-Nassr supporters and Ronaldo’s worldwide fan base are celebrating a trophy many believed would define his Saudi Arabian chapter.