Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help Al-Nassr claim the Saudi Pro League title after a 4-1 victory over Damac in the final match of the season on Thursday. It is the Portuguese forward's first domestic league title since leaving Juventus in 2020.
Al-Nassr led 2-0 but saw their advantage cut to 2-1, before Ronaldo unleashed a trademark free kick in the 63rd minute, curling the ball into the far corner of the net. Nine minutes later, he collected a cutback at the edge of the box and drilled a powerful shot into the goal, sealing the win.
The result saw Al-Nassr finish two points ahead of second-placed Al Hilal. Ronaldo, 41, was seen crying while watching the final moments from the substitutes' bench. He joined Al-Nassr in January 2023 after terminating his contract with Manchester United, signing a deal that runs until 2025.
This is Ronaldo's fourth domestic league title, following triumphs in England, Spain, and Italy, alongside five Champions League wins. He also led the Saudi Pro League in scoring in his first two seasons.
Ronaldo's arrival sparked a wave of high-profile signings in Saudi Arabia, attracting stars like Neymar and Karim Benzema. The aim is to elevate the Saudi Pro League into the world's top five competitions, despite limited international interest so far.
Ronaldo is considered a brand ambassador for Saudi Arabia, which is pushing economic diversification and hosting the 2034 World Cup. However, sports spending has drawn criticism as "sportswashing" intended to deflect human rights scrutiny.
Earlier, Ronaldo had only won the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023 with Al-Nassr. He also lost the King's Cup final in 2024 and recently fell to Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final.
