Tears and Triumph: Ronaldo Ends Saudi Trophy Wait with Title-Winning Double.

 At 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo did what he’s always done: deliver when it matters most. His brace against Damac sealed a 4-1 win for Al Nassr at Al-Awwal Park, clinching the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title and ending the club’s seven-year wait for domestic silverware. 

It’s Ronaldo’s first league title with Al Nassr and his first domestic league crown since winning Serie A with Juventus in 2020. The Portuguese icon was in tears on the bench before lifting the trophy, bringing an emotional close to a three-year quest for silverware in Saudi Arabia.

Al Nassr knew only a win would guarantee the title. Al Hilal had kept the pressure on with a win over Al Fayha, and the head-to-head tiebreaker favored Jorge Jesus’ rivals. But from the 31st minute, the Knights of Najd looked in control.

Sadio Mané opened the scoring with a header from João Félix’s corner. Kingsley Coman doubled the lead early in the second half with a composed finish after cutting in from the right. Damac pulled one back through a Morlaye Sylla penalty in the 58th minute, and for a few minutes, nerves crept into Al-Awwal Park.

In the 63rd minute, he curled in a sensational free-kick from a tight angle, beating Damac keeper Kewin and restoring Al Nassr’s two-goal cushion. It was a goal that summed up his season: technically perfect, mentally unshakable, and delivered under pressure. 

He wasn’t done. In the 81st minute, Coman drove down the right and picked out Ronaldo in the box. The captain made no mistake, slotting home his second to make it 4-1 and seal the title. The goal was his 973rd of his professional career.

Ronaldo finished the campaign with 28 goals and 3 assists in 30 league games. He missed out on the Golden Boot to Ivan Toney, who scored 32 for Al Ahli, but his impact went far beyond the numbers.

Under Jorge Jesus, Ronaldo adapted to a more central, target-man role, focusing on finishing and leadership. He played in all but four league games, missing two through injury and two in protest over club management. Even then, he remained Al Nassr’s talisman, scoring crucial goals against Al Ahli, Al Shabab, and on the final day.

His total for Al Nassr now stands at 129 goals in 148 appearances across all competitions. More importantly, he has his first major trophy in Saudi Arabia.

Al Nassr’s last league title came in the 2018-19 season. Since Ronaldo arrived in January 2023, the club had finished runner-up twice and suffered heartbreak in cup finals. The closest they came was last week, when a 98th-minute own goal against Al Hilal left the title race alive.

This time, there were no slip-ups. Al Nassr finished on 86 points from 34 games, two ahead of Al Hilal. They were the league’s highest scorers and lost only four times all season.

The win also secured Al Nassr’s place in the AFC Champions League Elite next season. 

For Ronaldo, the focus now shifts to Portugal and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s likely to be his last, and winning it remains the one major trophy missing from his career. 

For Al Nassr, it’s validation. The project that brought Ronaldo, Mané, João Félix, and Coman to Riyadh has delivered its first league title. The celebrations at Al-Awwal Park ran late into the night, with fans chanting “Thank you Ronaldo” and “Finally our time”. 

At 41, Ronaldo is still writing history. And in Riyadh, he’s finally a champion again.