A relieved Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears before finally getting his hands on the Saudi Pro League title. Al-Nassr were crowned champions following a resounding 4-1 win at home to Damac on Thursday in which their captain scored twice.
Ronaldo, 41, has had a painstaking wait for his first major trophy in Saudi Arabia, including losing a cup final on Saturday. That was the second heartbreak the Portugal captain had suffered in the space of five days.
In their penultimate league game against second-placed Al-Hilal, his side were seconds away from sealing the title before they conceded a stoppage-time equaliser courtesy of a defensive mixup. Ronaldo and his team-mates subsequently had to wait until the final day, but they’ve now got their hands on the trophy.
After goals from Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman set Al-Nassr on their way, Damac threatened a comeback by scoring before the hour mark. But within five minutes, Ronaldo netted the first of his two goals from a free-kick and sealed the win.
WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament – Buy the Special Edition today
Manager Jorge Jesus subbed Ronaldo in the closing stages and he could be seen in tears while sitting on the bench. Ronaldo’s brace also took him to 974 career goals, as he continues to pursue the milestone of 1,000.
Ronaldo has now won eight league titles in glittering career. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner signed for Al-Nassr in December 2022 following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United.
Will Portugal win the World Cup? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
Things didn’t go to plan in his first two full seasons but it’s proved to be third time lucky, with Jesus leading Al-Nassr to the title in his first season in charge. It’s also set to be the 71-year-old’s last, having decided to leave the Riyadh club when his contract expires next month.
Ronaldo is set to remain in Saudi Arabia until 2027, having signed a new lucrative two-year deal last summer. But he knows that retirement isn’t far away.
View 2 ImagesCristiano Ronaldo ended his long wait for a major trophy in Saudi Arabia(Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Last month, Ronaldo admitted: “The end of my career is getting closer… let’s enjoy every game. I keep playing not only for this generation, but also for the previous one and the one coming next.
“I enjoy it day by day, game by game, year by year, even as I get closer to the end of my career. That’s a fact. My career has been brilliant and I want to keep it that way. I still enjoy it, I keep scoring goals… but above all, it’s about winning.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us – and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Article continues belowSky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV packageThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£44SkyGet the deal here
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.