'41-year-old legend' Ronaldo sheds tears... After three years of waiting, Al-Nassr's first title secured with a multi-goal performance

*This content was translated by AI.

'Superstar' Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al-Nassr) finally shed hot tears. After a long period without a trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia, he secured a moving first championship trophy.

On the 22nd (Korean time), Al-Nassr achieved a decisive 4-1 home victory against Dimaq at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the final 34th round of the 2025-2026 Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo led his team to the title directly by scoring multiple goals. He unleashed a spectacular free-kick goal from the left flank in the 18th minute of the second half, followed by a decisive additional goal in the 36th minute. Ronaldo was substituted in the 42nd minute of the second half and left the field to the roaring cheers of Al-Nassr fans.

With this result, Al-Nassr finished the season with 28 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, accumulating 86 points, surpassing second-place Al-Hilal (84 points) to claim the league title. Al-Nassr's ascent to the top of the Saudi Pro League comes seven years after the 2018-2019 season and marks the club's 10th league title overall.

It was also a significant moment for Ronaldo. Although widely regarded as one of the world's top players, Ronaldo failed to secure a team title since donning the Al-Nassr jersey in January 2023. Consequently, he faced strong criticism for not bringing a trophy to the team last season, and rumors of his departure even circulated. However, Ronaldo finally grasped the championship he had long dreamed of.

It was an incredibly moving moment. Ronaldo finally shed tears of joy. Substituted late in the match and watching from the bench, Ronaldo, as the final whistle approached, clasped his hands together as if certain of the victory, revealing his emotions. Eventually, the tears he had held back burst forth. The coaching staff beside him embraced Ronaldo, sharing in the joy.

The UK's The Sun reported on the day: "Ronaldo, after signing a massive contract and moving to Saudi Arabia, displayed explosive scoring power but failed to connect with a team trophy. However, after a long three-year challenge, he has finally been able to call himself a champion once again." The outlet further explained, "Ronaldo has experienced championships in four different top-flight leagues."

The media also stated, "Ronaldo waited three years to claim a trophy, and shed tears when Al-Nassr won the title. Ronaldo signed a staggering contract worth 178 million pounds annually (approximately 362 billion won) to lead the development of Saudi football. And he delivered his share on the field. He scored 123 goals in just 142 matches for Al-Nassr. This figure is only 18 goals short of his total career goals at Manchester United. He achieved this record playing 204 fewer matches than during his time at Manchester United."

This season, Ronaldo also demonstrated his enduring form by scoring 28 goals in 30 league matches. However, he failed to become the top scorer. Al-Qadisiyah's Julian Quiñones claimed the title with 33 goals in 31 matches.

Ronaldo's gaze now turns to the 2026 FIFA North, Central America, and Caribbean World Cup. It is a stage where there is a high possibility it will be his last major tournament wearing the Portugal national team jersey. Ronaldo will challenge for his ultimate goal of a World Cup title in North America. Portugal has been drawn into Group K of the North American World Cup and will compete in the group stage against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

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*This content was translated by AI.