Cristiano Ronaldo’s only focus at this stage is breaking records. The forward was set to add another trophy to the list of titles he has won with different clubs, but Bento’s own goal in the 98th minute against Al Hilal delayed Al Nassr’s Saudi Pro League celebration and the prize money that comes with it.
The exact prize for the Saudi Pro League champion has not been made public. The most recently disclosed figure came in 2023, when Al Ittihad earned SR5 million, which would be about $1.33 million if that amount stayed the same. Al Nassr’s current two-point lead means a win over Damac would seal the title.
If Al Hilal do not beat Al Fayha, they could also be crowned champions. However, if Al Nassr fail to win, everything will depend on Al Hilal. A win would give them the title even if the teams finish level on points, since the head-to-head tiebreaker favors them after their 3-1 win in the first meeting and the recent draw.
Al Nassr’s lost final
Saturday did not bring a Saudi Pro League title for Al Nassr. But that was not their only chance to lift a trophy, as they also faced Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final in Riyadh.
Al Nassr come from a hard match against Al Hilal (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Even after the disappointment in their most recent match last Tuesday, they still had a chance to make up for it in front of their fans with a winnable final, but that did not happen.
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Al Nassr had been perfect throughout their continental run before falling in the worst possible match. Gamba Osaka took a first-half lead and never looked back, going on to win the title 1-0 and surprising most observers.
Ronaldo’s numbers
Ronaldo has continued to score as his team closes in on its first titles in some time, even after his arrival was expected to deliver them sooner. He has played 29 Saudi Pro League matches and scored 26 goals, one King Cup match without scoring, four AFC Champions League Two matches with one goal, and two Saudi Super Cup matches with one goal. That leaves him on 36 matches and 28 goals across those competitions.
