Al Nassr’s Saudi Pro League celebration was put on hold on Tuesday after Bento’s own goal in the 98th minute against Al Hilal kept the title race alive. The result left Al Nassr needing one more slip from their Riyadh rivals to finish the job.
Al Nassr still hold a five-point margin over Al Hilal and can become champions on Saturday if Hilal fail to beat Neom. If Hilal win, the title goes to the final match, where Al Nassr would meet Damac, a side fighting to avoid relegation, while Hilal would face mid-table Al Fayha next Thursday if needed.
The champion’s exact prize has not been disclosed, but the last public figure was SR5 million, or about $1.33 million, when Al Ittihad lifted the trophy in 2023. That makes the final stretch about more than pride. It is also about the only hard number that has been attached to the title in recent seasons.
Al Nassr’s league position has been built around Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 26 goals in 29 Saudi Pro League matches this season. He has also added one goal in three AFC Champions League Two matches and one in two Saudi Super Cup matches, with no goal in his lone King Cup outing, giving him 28 goals in 35 matches across those competitions. His record remains the thread running through the club’s season, from the domestic title chase to the continental final in Riyadh.
That final comes next Thursday against Gamba Osaka, and Al Nassr reached it with a perfect run: six wins in six group stage matches, two wins in the round of 16, then victories in the quarterfinal and semifinal for a total of 10 victories. The club has been flawless in the competition so far, which is why the title delay matters beyond the league table. A side that has not dropped a step in Asia is now waiting on results at home before it can fully turn to another trophy.
Al Nassr’s path to the AFC Champions League Two final has already been the subject of intense interest, with recent coverage of the tie and the club’s squad concerns adding to the buildup before the Saturday final and the Riyadh showdown with Gamba Osaka. The broader picture is straightforward: one competition can still be won now, another is already set, and Ronaldo’s season is close to defining both.
The only unanswered question that matters now is whether Al Nassr can force the ending they want before the final match arrives. If Hilal stumble against Neom, the celebration can begin. If not, the title race survives one more week.
