Al Nassr managed to showcase their attacking power by defeating Al Shabab. Far from being just another victory, Jorge Jesus maintained his side’s position as one of the leading forces in the Saudi Pro League. To achieve this, Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact was key, as he set the stage for João Félix and also shined as a goal-scorer. After this result, the Portuguese veteran moves closer to winning his first league title after several years without one.
While Al Shabab had players such as Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Yacine Adli available, they struggled heavily defensively. As a result, head coach Noureddine Zekri’s future is now under serious doubt, as he has failed to bring defensive stability, with the team becoming one of the most heavily conceded sides in the league. Because of this, they remain in 13th place in the standings, sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone.
With two early goals from João Félix, Al Nassr dominated their opponents. Although the midfield experienced a drop in level, with Abdullah Alkhaibari raising several doubts, Iñigo Martínez’s display proved crucial in securing the victory. Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as key star scoring a goal. Moreover, he also played a key role in the collective game, constantly drawing defenders and creating spaces for Kingsley Coman, Joao Felix and Sadio Mane.
How do the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League standings look now?
Following Al Nassr’s victory, they remain at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings with 82 points. In addition, head coach Jorge Jesus has managed to build one of the most consistent teams in the league, excelling offensively and becoming the division’s highest-scoring side. Although Al Hilal are also battling for the top spot, they sit five points behind and still have a crucial match against Cristiano Ronaldo’s team that could decide everything.
Saudi Pro League current standings
see also
Cristiano Ronaldo under serious pressure as Karim Benzema’s Al-Hilal surge shakes title race: When would Saudi Pro League champion be decided?
If Al Nassr defeat Al Hilal in their next match, they would take a major step toward ending the club’s seven-year league title drought by reaching 85 points. In that scenario, the team would no longer need a win against Damac on the final matchday, making a draw or even a loss far less significant. Cristiano Ronaldo would also capture his first league title in six years, with his last domestic triumph coming at Juventus in 2020.
Cristiano Ronaldo could lose the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot
Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed a strong season at Al Nassr. Under head coach Jorge Jesus, the Portuguese veteran has received greater attacking support, with João Félix also standing out and helping elevate his goalscoring form. However, he has managed just 26 league goals, leaving the 41-year-old striker in third place in the Saudi Pro League scoring rankings.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr.
Ivan Toney and Julián Quiñones are battling for the Golden Boot with 30 and 29 goals respectively. With only a few matchdays remaining, either player could take the lead on the final day of the season. If Cristiano Ronaldo wants to re-enter the race for the award, he would likely need to score five goals or move across the final two matches. Given the difficulty of that task, he appears set to miss out on the individual prize, despite being close to winning the league title.
