Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr a step closer to winning Saudi League title

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr moved a step closer to securing their first-ever Saudi Pro League title, despite being held to a tense 1-1 draw by fierce rivals Al Hilal in a high-stakes title decider on Tuesday night.

Ronaldo, once again the focal point for Al Nassr, looked determined to inspire his side on the biggest occasion, but the Portuguese superstar was left visibly frustrated at full-time after seeing his side fail to capitalise on several key opportunities.

A victory in the Riyadh Derby would have put Al Nassr at 85 points, making it impossible for Al Hilal (77 points) to catch them with only one or two matches remaining.

The Saudi League leaders would now need another draw in their final match against Damac to secure the title following the derby ending in a draw.

The title would have tilted in favour of Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, had they walked away with all three points against Ronaldo’s side, once again denying the Portuguese legend his first league title in Saudi Arabia since joining Al Nassr in 2023.

Ronaldo joined the Saudi League giants three seasons ago from his former club, Manchester United, leading a host of stars and attracting more attention towards the Saudi League.

However, the 41-year-old has failed to lead his side to the most prestigious trophy since his move, despite recording over 115 goals in all competitions since moving to the league.

During this period, the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward has broken many records in the Saudi league, while creating his own records (2023/24 – 35 League Goals) – setting a new record in the process.

Ronaldo’s prolific form has seen him claim multiple Saudi Pro League Player of the Month awards, while also surpassing the 100-goal mark for the club across all competitions, including the AFC Champions League.

The draw may feel like a missed chance for Al Nassr, yet it still keeps them firmly on course to finally lift the Saudi Pro League crown after previous near misses and disappointment since Ronaldo’s arrival in Saudi Arabia.

With only a handful of matches remaining, the title battle remains alive — and the pressure is mounting.