LONDON: Al-Nassr beat Damac 3-1 on Thursday to become Saudi Pro League champions for the first time since 2019. Here are four factors that contributed to that long-awaited success.
Cristiano Ronaldo still makes a difference
The 41-year-old may not be the same player he was, but his near-unparalleled experience at the game’s top levels still make a difference. Over the season he scored 28 league goals — not quite enough for a third successive golden boot, but impressive nevertheless.
There has been controversy and heartache along the way but that was all forgotten on the final night. After the events of last week, when a last-second goalkeeping howler prevented Al-Nassr from being crowned champions against Al-Hilal, and last weekend, when Gamba Osaka came to Riyadh and won 1-0 in the final of the AFC Champions League Two, there was a real fear the Yellows could end a season that had promised so much with nothing.
In the second half on Thursday night, when Damac pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 and then almost equalized immediately, those fears returned. The tension was palpable. But then the Portuguese megastar scored directly from a free kick and showed his striking instincts to fire home from close range. The fear ended and the celebrations began.
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 22, 2026
Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s winner against Al-Shabab
After 10 wins from the first 10 games, Al-Nassr approached the end of the year in control. Then the final game of 2025 saw a 2-2 draw at Al-Ettifaq followed by three straight losses in the first 12 days of the new year — against title rivals Al-Ahli, Al-Qadsiah and Al-Hilal. This suggested it was the same old Al-Nassr — great when things are going their way, but without the stomach for a title fight.
Then came another Riyadh derby against Al-Shabab. Al-Nassr raced into a 2-0 lead inside the first few minutes but when the visitors fought back to make it 2-2, it looked as though the season was unravelling. With 14 minutes remaining, Al-Nassr threw everything at the Shabab defense. The ball fell to Ghareeb in a crowded penalty box and his shot found a way through, one of five goals he scored this season.
Another defeat, or even draw, could have been catastrophic but Al-Nassr found a way. They went onto a run of 15 straight wins which really sealed the title.
Mane, Felix and Coman play crucial roles
It is a fact that attacking players get the majority of the headlines, but then when you have such talent at your disposal it is hard to see past this trio.
A strong case could be made for naming all three in the five-man shortlist for SPL Player of the Season. Only Felix is on it, though, and should receive it if sentiment does not see it go to Ronaldo. Felix, signed from Chelsea in the summer, scored 20 goals and recorded 13 assists. He is so good that his senior Portuguese compatriot usually lets him take free kicks.
As far as Mane is concerned, there is one statistic that tells the full story. The Senegalese star played in 25 league games this season and Al-Nassr won 24 and drew the other. The former Liverpool star was on international duty when his club team had its mid-season wobble; essentially, when Mane plays, Nassr win.
Coman has been around so long it feels he is older than 29 but the former French international has been almost ever-present this season; 10 goals and 11 assists show what a difference he has made.
Win over Al-Ahli showed a champion’s mentality
It’s not just about the flair players. Defenders such as Nawaf Boushal and Abdulelah Al-Amri also had a good season and were at the back in that titanic title battle with Al-Ahli at the end of April. It was the kind of bad-tempered, nasty and entertaining game every title race needs.
Al-Ahli needed to win to keep their challenge alive and were coming off the back of their Asian Champions League triumph. Al-Nassr decided against giving them a guard of honor which set the tone for the game. The Greens were aggressive and did their best to keep Al-Nassr from finding their rhythm.
It was a battle, and a brilliant one, but the Riyadh team fought for the right to play. Towards the end, that is what happened. Ronaldo headed home with 15 minutes remaining and then Coman lashed the second into the net in the final seconds.
In those 90 minutes, Nassr showed the spirit of champions. They showed the mental strength and the skill to get the result they needed, beat a key rival and dump them out of the title race. It was a real team and a real champion’s performance.
