Cristiano Ronaldo in tears after finally conquering Saudi Arabia; Al Nassr the end of the title to wait

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with the Saudi Pro League trophy. (Image credit: Al Nassr) Cristiano Ronaldo finally got his hands on the Saudi Pro League trophy on Thursday as Al Nassr sealed the title with a commanding 4-1 victory over Damac FC, ending the Portuguese superstar’s long wait for domestic silverware in Saudi Arabia.The 41-year-old produced the biggest night of the season, scoring twice in the second half to guide Al Nassr to the championship ahead of rivals Al Hilal, who finished just two points behind in the title race. As the final minutes ticked by, Ronaldo – substituted late in the game – was seen in tears on the bench, devastated after finally narrowly missing out on their first Saudi league title after two frustrating seasons.

Ronaldo arrives when it matters most

With the title on the line on the final night of the campaign, Ronaldo again produced a famous performance.After Al Nassr raced into a 2-0 lead before Damac pulled one back, the veteran forward restored control in spectacular fashion in the 63rd minute. His trademark free-kick spun through a crowd of players and beat the goalkeeper to find the far corner, sparking wild celebrations.Ronaldo then sealed victory nine minutes from time when he slotted home a close-range finish from a cut-back in the box to complete his surge and put the title beyond doubt.The Saudi Arabian league crown now joins Ronaldo’s domestic league triumphs in England, Spain and Italy along with five UEFA Champions League titles.

Ronaldo: From Saudi trailblazer to champion

Ronaldo’s arrival at Al Nassr in January 2023 transformed Saudi football globally. His sensational move opened the floodgates for several superstars including Neymar and Karim Benzema to move to the Saudi Pro League.Despite the huge hype, Ronaldo’s Saudi journey has not always been smooth sailing. He suffered heartbreaking final defeats, including a King’s Cup loss to Al Hilal in 2024 when he broke down in tears on the pitch.This season has also brought disappointment after Al Nassr lost the AFC Champions League Two final last week.But Thursday finally gave Ronaldo the league title he had been chasing since arriving in the Gulf nation.The Portuguese icon, who now has 973 career goals, is also preparing for his sixth and final FIFA World Cup after being named in Portugal’s squad earlier this week.