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Four years into his Al Nassr tenure, Cristiano Ronaldo is closer than ever to claiming his first major honor with the Saudi club.
The Portuguese superstar has been pursuing a league championship with Al Nassr ever since his transfer from Manchester United in December 2022, yet despite his prolific goal contributions, he has been unable to deliver silverware. The club finished as runners-up in his opening two seasons before dropping to third place in the most recent campaign.
It may have taken longer than anticipated, but Al Nassr now find themselves in prime position to claim the Saudi Pro League title for the first time since Ronaldo's arrival. With just two fixtures remaining in 2025–26, they lead the standings with 82 points, five ahead of second-placed Al Hilal.
The two rivals are scheduled to clash on Tuesday in what shapes up to be a title-defining encounter — one that could leave Ronaldo in tears regardless of the outcome.
How Al Nassr Can Finally Win Saudi Pro League
The route to glory is straightforward for Al Nassr: Ronaldo and his teammates simply need to beat Al Hilal at Al-Awwal Park on Tuesday to be crowned champions.
A victory for the league leaders would move them to 85 points while keeping their closest rivals on 77. Even with a game in hand, Al Hilal would be mathematically unable to reach 85 points by winning their final two matches of the season.
Saudi Pro League Standings
Place | Team | Points | Games Played |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Al Nassr | 82 | 32 |
2 | Al Hilal | 77 | 31 |
3 | Al Ahli | 75 | 32 |
If Al Nassr falter on Tuesday and manage only a draw against the visitors, the title dream remains alive. Jorge Jesus's side would then need to win their final fixture against Damac FC to secure the championship, regardless of what their rivals achieve in their last two outings.
Should Al Hilal defeat Al Nassr, however, the title race becomes a nail-biter for Ronaldo. Simone Inzaghi's side would close the gap to just two points, and with a game in hand, they could snatch the Saudi crown from Ronaldo's grasp by winning their remaining matches against Neom SC and Al-Fayha.
Riyadh Derby Sets Up Real Madrid Reunion
All attention will be fixed on Ronaldo and Karim Benzema come Tuesday. The former Real Madrid teammates will go head-to-head in the season's most pivotal match, with far more than just bragging rights at stake.
While the two forwards have faced each other in the Saudi Pro League before, this marks their first meeting since Benzema's move to Al Hilal in the winter transfer window — a transfer that prompted Ronaldo to stage a protest strike against the club's ownership, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The five-time Ballon d'Or recipient was reportedly frustrated by the way PIF handled Al Nassr's transfer business compared to the preferential treatment seemingly afforded to rival clubs Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli, all of which are under the same ownership.
Benzema's switch to Al Hilal was at the heart of the dispute, but Ronaldo ultimately returned to the pitch and guided his side to the summit of the table. The 41-year-old has netted 26 times in the Saudi top flight this season, outscoring Benzema by nine league goals.
Come Tuesday night, however, the only thing that will matter is which of the two legends ends up on the winning side.