According to SportBible, Al Nassr and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo were moments away from clinching their first Saudi Pro League title since 2019, only for a calamitous late own goal to deny them in a dramatic 1-1 draw against second-placed Al Hilal. The result leaves the title race unexpectedly open, with Ronaldo visibly emotional at the final whistle.
The highly anticipated clash saw Al Nassr take a crucial one-goal advantage through Mohamed Simakan. With the game entering its final seconds, a victory seemed assured, which would have given Al Nassr an unassailable seven-point lead with just one match remaining in the campaign. However, fate intervened in the most cruel fashion.
In the 90th minute, with only 10 seconds left to play, Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento scored a devastating own goal, leveling the score and snatching victory from his team’s grasp. The late equalizer sent shockwaves through the stadium and left Al Nassr’s players, including a tearful Ronaldo, reeling from the sudden turn of events.
A cruel twist of fate
The draw means Al Nassr now sits five points ahead of Al Hilal. Crucially, Al Hilal has a game in hand, meaning the title race will go down to the wire. For Al Nassr, their final match of the season is against Damac, and a win in that fixture will still secure the league title for Jorge Jesus’s side and mark Cristiano Ronaldo’s first league triumph in Saudi Arabia.
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Despite the crushing disappointment, Ronaldo quickly took to social media to rally his teammates and fans. “The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take! Thank you all for the amazing support tonight,” the 41-year-old posted, reflecting his characteristic resilience.
Ronaldo’s resilience and future in Saudi Arabia
Ronaldo’s commitment to Saudi football remains strong, despite the recent setback. Speaking to Saudi broadcaster Thmanyah, he reiterated his happiness in the country. “I’m very happy. As I say so many times, I belong to Saudi Arabia. It’s a country that has welcomed me very well, and my family and my friends. I’m happy here, I want to continue here,” he stated.
His comments underline a determination to succeed in the Saudi Pro League, even as his tenure has seen its share of drama. Earlier in February, Ronaldo reportedly refused to play for Al Nassr in protest over the club’s perceived inaction in the winter transfer window. Reports also suggested his anger stemmed from Karim Benzema being allowed to terminate his Al Ittihad contract before moving to Al Hilal, highlighting Ronaldo’s intense desire for competitive advantage and top-tier talent around him.
As the season draws to a close, all eyes will be on Al Nassr’s final match against Damac, where Ronaldo and his teammates will have one last chance to turn their title dream into reality.
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Sources: www.sportbible.com
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