Al Nassr will have to wait to seal the Saudi Pro League title after a last-gasp gaffe from goalkeeper Bento saw the league leaders draw 1-1 against Al Hilal in a big derby clash on Tuesday night. Star player Cristiano Ronaldo was made to wait for yet another piece of silverware.
Having to wait a bit longer for the title
Al Nassr have not been champions of their domestic league since the 2018/19 season. Jorge Jesus’ team were heading to a 1-0 win that would have ensured the result needed against their second-place opponents.
However, their Brazilian goalkeeper Bento kept it interesting heading into their last game of the Saudi Pro League campaign by misguiding a long throw and fumbling the ball into the net, although contact with one of his defenders didn’t help the Brazilian international.
The result means that Al Nassr are five points clear at the top of the table, with just one game remaining. However, second-place Al Hilal still has a game in hand, so they it could take it to the last game of the weekend, if they win their next league outing.
Ronaldo set for more career silverware
.jpg){kind=link}
Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to win the Saudi Pro League since joining Al Nassr in 2023. If, or more likely, when Al Nassr clinches the title, it will be the eighth domestic top-flight title of his career.
Ronaldo has defied the ageing process and, at 41, has been instrumental for Al Nassr, scoring 26 goals in 29 Saudi Pro League appearances this season.
Only England international Ivan Toney of Al-Ahli and Al Quadsiah’s Colombian star Julián Quiñones, with 31 and 29 goals respectively, have outscored the veteran Portuguese in the Saudi top-flight this season.
Even when the Saudi season is finished, Ronaldo will still have business to take care of this summer, as he is expected to be called up to the Portugal national team squad for the 2026 World Cup. If Ronaldo does feature for the Selecao, it will be his sixth World Cup.