A Stunning 4-1 Victory Over Damac on the Final Matchday Ends a Six-Year Title Drought and Delivers Cristiano Ronaldo His First Saudi Pro League Crown.
Six years. Six long, agonising years since Al-Nassr last stood atop Saudi football. Six years of near-misses, dramatic collapses, and promises unfulfilled. But on the final night of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season, in front of a roaring Al-Awwal Park, Al-Nassr delivered the most complete performance of their campaign — a devastating 4-1 dismantling of Damac — to reclaim the Saudi Pro League title and send Riyadh into delirium.
It was the night Cristiano Ronaldo had been waiting for since arriving in the Kingdom in 2022. It was the night Jorge Jesus cemented his place in Saudi football history. And it was the night Al-Nassr reminded everyone exactly why they are the giant of Riyadh.
The Stakes Had Never Been Higher
Heading into the final matchday of the season, the Saudi Pro League title race was as tight as it had been all year. Al-Nassr sat two points above Al-Hilal, knowing that only a victory would guarantee the championship. A draw would hand the title to their fiercest rivals on head-to-head record. There was no margin for error. No room for nerves. Win, or watch Al-Hilal lift the trophy instead.
With Al-Hilal simultaneously facing Al-Fayha, Riyadh was split down the middle from kick-off. The pressure inside Al-Awwal Park was suffocating — the kind of atmosphere that either breaks a team or galvanises it.
Al-Nassr were galvanised.
Goals, Drama, and a Title Decided
Damac arrived in Riyadh fighting for their own survival, knowing a defeat could confirm their relegation to the Saudi First Division. That desperation shaped the opening stages. The visitors sat deep in a compact defensive shape, frustrating Al-Nassr's attacks and limiting clear opportunities in the opening quarter-hour.
The tension began to ease just before half-time. Joao Felix delivered a perfectly weighted corner kick, and Sadio Mane — arriving at the near post with purpose — powered a header into the net. Al-Awwal Park erupted. Al-Nassr were in front, and suddenly the title felt close.
Kingsley Coman doubled the advantage seven minutes into the second half, driving a crisp, assured strike from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner. With the score at 2-0 and Al-Hilal still only leading 1-0 against Al-Fayha, Al-Nassr were firmly on course.
Then came the scare. A handball decision against Mohamed Simakan in the area gifted Damac a penalty, and Morlaye Sylla converted to make it 2-1. For a brief, uncomfortable moment, the atmosphere inside Al-Awwal Park tightened. Bento was called into action moments later, producing a critical save to deny a Damac counterattack and preserve the lead.
It was the moment the match needed a captain. And Ronaldo delivered.
Ronaldo's Crowning Moment
Cristiano Ronaldo has collected more trophies than most players dare dream of — Premier League titles, La Liga crowns, a Serie A championship, Champions League medals, and international glory with Portugal. But the Saudi Pro League had remained elusive through three years of effort and heartbreak at Al-Nassr.
On this night, that changed.
The Portuguese icon stepped up to deliver a stunning free-kick from a tight angle on the left flank, curling the ball past the helpless goalkeeper to restore a two-goal cushion and extinguish any lingering Damac threat. It was a goal of composure, precision, and sheer class — a reminder, if any were still needed, of exactly who Ronaldo still is.
His second came in the 81st minute. A powerful, driven finish that sparked scenes of pure, unrestrained emotion inside Al-Awwal Park. Ronaldo broke down in tears as the ball hit the net. After everything — the near-misses, the scrutiny, the questions — he had finally done it. The captain had delivered. When he was substituted for Abdullah Al-Hamdan six minutes later, every person inside the stadium rose to give him a standing ovation that shook the Riyadh night sky.
Final score: Al-Nassr 4-1 Damac. Saudi Pro League champions. For the first time since 2019.
What This Title Means
For Al-Nassr, this is their tenth Saudi Pro League title — and the first since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo transformed the club into a global name. For three seasons, the questions lingered: Was the Ronaldo project truly delivering trophies? Had the ambition outpaced the achievement?
The answer, delivered in four goals on the final night of the season, is a resounding yes.
For Ronaldo personally, this title adds another domestic league trophy to a collection that now spans four of Europe's top five leagues and Saudi Arabia. He heads into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Portugal — widely expected to be his final World Cup campaign — as a reigning league champion. Not many players can say that heading into the biggest stage in football.
For Damac, the night ended in crushing heartbreak. The defeat confirmed their relegation to the Saudi First Division, a brutal finale to a difficult season. Combined with Al-Riyadh's result elsewhere, there was no escape.
Riyadh Belongs to Al-Nassr
When the final whistle blew at Al-Awwal Park, the scenes were unlike anything the stadium had witnessed in years. Players embraced on the pitch, fans flooded into the streets, and Riyadh celebrated the return of the club it calls its own to the summit of Saudi football.
Six years of waiting. One extraordinary final night. Al-Nassr are champions again — and with Ronaldo, Jesus, and a squad built to compete, the rest of Saudi Arabia should be very, very worried about what comes next.