RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo has built his career on winning and rewriting records. No matter where the 41-year-old finds himself, the expectation has always been the same: trophies.
Yet the challenge of 2026 is an intriguing one: Ronaldo could lead Al-Nassr to a long-awaited Saudi Pro League title, while also chasing glory with Portugal this summer — or see both campaigns unravel in the decisive weeks ahead.
Guiding Al-Nassr to the league crown in a season marked by injuries, inconsistent form among teammates, and even a brief boycott following the winter transfer window would be a significant statement from the Portuguese star.
For now, things are going Al-Nassr’s way.
After Matchday 27 saw both Al-Hilal and Al-Qadsiah drop points, Al-Nassr sit comfortably at the top of the table on 70 points, putting them in pole position to claim a first league title since 2019.
But the road to the title will not be simple.
Of Al-Nassr’s seven remaining fixtures, three come against fellow top-four sides: Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Qadsiah. The remaining matches offer little respite either, with encounters against their bogey team Al-Ettifaq, city rivals Al-Shabab, and relegation battlers Damac and Al-Okhdood.
History offers a warning.
When Al-Nassr faced this same group of opponents earlier in the season, they endured their worst spell of the campaign, collecting just 10 points from a possible 21.
The toughest stretch also arrives in a brutal sequence: Those three clashes against fellow title challengers will take place within 10 days.
Assuming the standings remain unchanged heading into Al-Nassr’s Matchday 30 clash against Al-Ahli, a repeat of the first round could prove costly. Al-Nassr were beaten 3-2 in that fixture, before a 2-1 loss to Al-Qadsiah and a 3-1 defeat to Al-Hilal in the Capital Derby.
Currently, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli sit five points behind Al-Nassr, with Al-Qadsiah a further five points back. On paper, it provides a cushion — but three consecutive defeats could quickly turn the title race on its head, particularly if the chasing pack collect maximum points during that period, as they did in the first round.
In that scenario, Al-Nassr could find themselves trailing Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal by the penultimate round, with Al-Qadsiah lurking and still in contention for the coveted third spot — a direct qualification place for next season’s AFC Champions League Elite.
On current form, however, Al-Nassr appear to have the advantage.
Al-Qadsiah’s impressive unbeaten run has ended following their derby defeat to Al-Ettifaq. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal remain undefeated, but eight draws this season have weakened their title challenge.
For Al-Nassr, the greater concern lies within — matches against the league’s best sides have often exposed their vulnerabilities. While they have won 23 of their 27 matches this season, their dropped points have come in clashes against Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, Al-Qadsiah, and Al-Ettifaq.
They are not helped by other factors. None of the remaining top four sides face each other again this season, meaning Al-Nassr cannot rely on rivals taking points off one another in direct encounters.
Then there is the question of goals.
Ronaldo leads the team’s scoring chart with 23, followed by Joao Felix on 15. However, the latter endured a difficult run before his brace against Al-Khaleej, appearing in 14 consecutive league matches without scoring.
Al-Nassr remain the league’s highest-scoring side, but statistics rarely capture the anxiety felt by supporters during a tight title race.
For Ronaldo and his teammates, the equation is now simple. Seven finals stand between them and a title that has eluded the club for seven years.
Come May 21, Al-Nassr will discover whether this squad truly has the resilience to weather the storm and finally reclaim the Saudi Pro League crown.
