Ronaldo Ends Trophy Drought at 41, Fires Al-Nassr to Saudi Pro League Crown

Cristiano Ronaldo finally got his Saudi happy ending. The 41-year-old legend scored twice in a 4-1 season finale against Damac, delivering Al-Nassr’s first league title and ending a five-year club trophy drought that stretched back to his Juventus days.

With Al Hilal breathing down their necks just two points behind, Al-Nassr needed victory. They led 2-1 when Ronaldo stepped up in the 63rd minute, curling a trademark free-kick through a forest of legs into the far corner. Nine minutes from time, he smashed home a cut-back from the six-yard box—sealing the championship and reducing himself to tears on the bench as the final whistle approached.

The title adds Saudi Arabia to Ronaldo’s collection of English, Spanish, and Italian championships, plus five Champions League medals. It also validates his controversial 2023 move that opened the floodgates for Neymar, Benzema, and others to follow his $232 million trail to the desert kingdom.

Yet the victory comes with caveats. Ronaldo’s Saudi stint has been turbulent: a 2024 King’s Cup final penalty shootout loss left him in floods of tears, a three-game absence this season reportedly protested Benzema’s transfer to rival Al Hilal, and Saturday’s AFC Champions League Two final defeat to Gamba Osaka stung just days before this triumph.

With 973 career goals now, the 1,000 milestone looms. First, though, comes a sixth World Cup appearance with Portugal—his last realistic shot at the trophy that has eluded him.