Ronaldo’s brace delivers Al Nassr’s first Saudi Pro League title, ending his trophy drought

Ronaldo signed with Al Nassr in January 2023 on a deal reported at 200 million euros over two and a half years, later extended to 2027. His arrival coincided with a wave of high‑profile signings, including Neymar and Karim Benzema, aimed at lifting the league into the world’s top five competitions.

Before Thursday, Al Nassr had never won the Saudi Pro League, while Al Hilal finished the season just two points behind the champions. The league’s average attendance rose to over 12,000 fans per match in the 2023‑24 season, according to league officials.

At 41, Ronaldo opened the scoring with a free‑kick in the 63rd minute that curled past the goalkeeper and a wall of defenders. He added a second goal nine minutes from time, finishing a cut‑back on the edge of the six‑yard box with a low drive into the net. The brace brought his seasonal tally to 35 goals, making him the league’s top scorer for the second consecutive year.

The victory ends a trophy drought that started after his 2020 Serie A title with Juventus, his last major club honor before moving to Saudi Arabia. With this win, Ronaldo now holds league titles from England (3), Spain (2), Italy (1), Saudi Arabia (1) and five Champions League medals.

The title confirms Saudi Arabia’s investment strategy of using marquee players to boost the league’s competitive and commercial standing. For Ronaldo, it adds a first major trophy in four years to a résumé that already includes 973 career goals and 143 international strikes. The win also strengthens Al Nassr’s claim to be a continental contender, having reached the AFC Champions League Two final earlier in the season.

Analysts note that sustaining success will depend on continued financial backing and the ability to retain talent amid slowing big‑money transfers. The league’s long‑term goal remains to rank among the top five leagues by quality, attendance and revenue.

Watch whether Ronaldo can help Al Nassr defend the title next season and if he will add a sixth World Cup appearance with Portugal in 2026.