The Night Ronaldo Cried
On Thursday 21 May 2026, the Saudi Pro League reached its climax. Al-Nassr thrashed Damac 4-1 and, with 86 points, finished two points clear of arch-rivals Al-Hilal. For the club, it was the first league crown since 2019. For Cristiano Ronaldo, it was the first major domestic title in the Middle East .
The 41‑year‑old scored twice: a trademark free‑kick in the 63rd minute, and a close‑range finish nine minutes from time. When the final whistle blew, he was seen wiping away tears on the bench. It had been more than three years since the Portuguese had won a major club trophy – his last was the 2019‑20 Serie A with Juventus .
A Title Built on Resilience
The championship was anything but straightforward. In the penultimate round, Al-Nassr had conceded a bizarre own goal deep into stoppage time against Al-Hilal, turning a potential early celebration into a last‑day showdown. In the final match, despite leading 2-0, Al-Nassr saw their advantage cut to 2-1. Ronaldo’s double then extinguished all suspense .
With 28 league goals this season, Ronaldo took his career tally to 973 – only 27 shy of the 1,000‑goal milestone. He also became the second all‑time top scorer in men’s football history, behind Josef Bican according to the RSSSF .
A Boost Before the World Cup
The title is the perfect preparation for the upcoming World Cup. Ronaldo has just been selected for his sixth tournament with Portugal, where he will aim to extend his record as the all‑time leading men’s international scorer (143 goals). The Saudi Pro League, boosted by stars like Sadio Mané and João Félix, hopes this victory marks the beginning of a consistent era of continental success .
Sources & references:
Ronaldo wins Saudi Pro League for the first time – Vietnam.vn (22 May 2026)
Ronaldo scores twice as Al Nassr seal Saudi Pro League title – Pakistan Today (22 May 2026)
Ultimate image for Saudi Arabia’s football poster boy: Ronaldo wins title – BBC Sport (22 May 2026)
Ronaldo scores twice to seal Saudi Pro League at last with Al-Nassr – Al Jazeera (21 May 2026)
Nassr’s Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo poses with the trophy after winning the Saudi Pro League title at the end of the football match against Damac at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh on May 21, 2026. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
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