Cristiano Ronaldo Fires Al Nassr to Saudi Pro League Glory with Match-Winning Brace Against Damac

Kenya, 22 May 2026 - Cristiano Ronaldo delivered on the biggest night of Al Nassr’s season, scoring twice as the Riyadh giants defeated Damac 4–1 to clinch the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League title in a dramatic final-day showdown at Al-Awwal Park.

The victory secured Al Nassr’s first league title since 2019 and finally brought Ronaldo his first major domestic trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia in late 2022.

But despite the comfortable final scoreline, the night was filled with tension, pressure, and shifting emotions as Al Nassr battled both Damac and the live title race unfolding simultaneously elsewhere in Saudi Arabia.

Heading into the final round, Al Nassr held only a two-point lead over Al Hilal, meaning any slip-up could have handed the title back to their fierce rivals. The pressure had intensified even further after last week’s devastating 98th-minute own goal by goalkeeper Bento against Al Hilal denied Al Nassr an early title celebration and forced the race into the final day.

Inside a packed Al-Awwal Park, nerves were visible early in the match.

Damac arrived desperately fighting for survival, while Al Nassr carried the weight of an entire season on their shoulders. At the same time, news quickly filtered through the stadium that Al Hilal had taken the lead against Al Fayha in the other decisive title match. That goal temporarily increased the pressure on Ronaldo’s side because it meant Al Nassr absolutely had to win to remain champions.

The opening stages reflected the tension.

Al Nassr dominated possession but struggled to break down a deep and compact Damac defence. Cristiano Ronaldo went close with a header after Sadio Mané missed a clear opportunity, while João Félix repeatedly tested Damac goalkeeper Kevin with dangerous deliveries and long-range efforts.

As anxiety grew around the stadium, the breakthrough finally arrived in the 34th minute.

João Félix whipped in a superb corner delivery that found Sadio Mané completely unmarked inside the box, and the Senegalese forward powered home a header to give Al Nassr a crucial 1–0 lead. The goal immediately transformed the atmosphere in Riyadh, with supporters sensing the title was within touching distance.

Still, the tension remained because Al Hilal were also winning their match.

At halftime, Al Nassr were leading the league by only two points, meaning one mistake could still change everything. Reports from the stadium described goalkeeper Bento as visibly nervous after his costly error the previous week, with even simple passes drawing anxious reactions from supporters.

The second half then exploded into life.

Kingsley Coman doubled Al Nassr’s lead in the 52nd minute with a brilliant strike from outside the box, appearing to put one hand firmly on the trophy. However, the nerves quickly returned when Damac were awarded a penalty after a VAR review confirmed a handball inside the area. Morlaye Sylla converted from the spot in the 58th minute to make it 2–1 and suddenly revive the tension inside Al-Awwal Park.