4 factors that helped Al-Nassr to SPL glory

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. 

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— 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