Cristiano Ronaldo has lifted his first Saudi Pro League trophy, spearheading Al-Nassr to their first championship title since 2019. The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar, who joined the Riyadh club in December 2022 after his departure from Manchester United, ended a more than three-year wait for a major domestic title in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Ronaldo played a pivotal role in securing the league, scoring twice in Al-Nassr’s decisive 4-1 victory over Damac on the final day of the season. This triumph marks his eighth league championship overall, adding to his illustrious career which includes titles with Manchester United in England, Real Madrid in Spain, and Juventus in Italy.
A hard-fought title race
The 2025-2026 Saudi Pro League season was widely described as the best yet, featuring a fierce title race that initially included four teams. Ultimately, the championship came down to a titanic showdown between bitter rivals Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal. A crucial match on 12 May, watched in over 180 countries, saw the two giants battle to a 1-1 draw after Al-Nassr conceded an own goal in the 97th minute. Despite this setback, Al-Nassr ultimately prevailed, securing their 11th league title.
Ronaldo’s individual contributions have been immense since his arrival, recently reaching his 100th goal in the Saudi Pro League. Across all competitions, he has now scored 123 times for Al-Nassr.
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CHAMPIONS!!!!! 🏆 🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/8x9nzGHRx1
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) May 21, 2026
Broader implications for Saudi football
Ronaldo’s shock signing in late 2022 was a catalyst for an unprecedented influx of global football stars into the Saudi Pro League. Players like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Neymar followed, transforming the league’s profile. In summer 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also owns Newcastle United, took over the ‘Big Four’ clubs: Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad. Al-Hilal, however, saw a 70% stake sold in April 2026 to Kingdom Holding Company, run by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
Despite the league’s growing prominence, the Saudi sports project has faced recent scrutiny. PIF announced it would stop funding LIV Golf at the end of the current season, the 2029 Winter Asian Games were postponed indefinitely, and the WTA’s season-ending tennis finals are set to leave Saudi Arabia after its three-year deal concludes this year.
Adding to the complexities, accusations of favouritism towards Ronaldo and Al-Nassr have emerged. Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney and Brazilian winger Galeno are among those who have voiced concerns. Ronaldo himself addressed these claims, stating, “I think this is not good for the league. Everyone complains. This is football, this is not a war… but not everything is allowed. I am going to speak at the end of the season because I’ve seen many, many bad things. Many players have complained, doing posts on Instagram, on Facebook, speaking about the referees, speaking about the league, speaking about the project. This is not good. This is not the goal of the league.”
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The league’s transfer strategy is also evolving. While Saudi Arabian teams spent £700 million in a single transfer window at its peak in 2023, there is now a greater focus on acquiring younger players with sell-on value. However, sources in Riyadh indicate that funds remain available for the right veteran superstar.
Simon Chadwick, professor of Afro-Eurasian sport at Emlyon Business School in Paris, believes Al-Nassr’s triumph is a significant moment. “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,” Chadwick told BBC Sport. “Ronaldo’s and Al-Nassr’s shared achievement may also bring some much-needed impetus to Saudi Arabian football, which of late has somewhat struggled to sustain the hype and appeal of three years ago.”
Chadwick concluded, “It is now for all the clubs, the league and the country’s decision-makers to capitalise upon the success that Ronaldo has helped to deliver.” This comes even as Al-Nassr surprisingly lost to Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the final of the AFC Champions League Two, Asia’s equivalent of the Europa League, on Saturday.
Sources: www.bbc.com
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