Faith Nyasuguta
Cristiano Ronaldo concluded the Saudi Pro League season by breaking the season goal-scoring record on Monday.
Ronaldo netted twice in Riyadh as Al-Nassr triumphed over Al-Ittihad 4-2, bringing his league tally to 35 goals, surpassing the previous record set by Abderrazak Hamdallah in 2019.
In the final moments of the first half, Ronaldo, after having two goals disallowed for offside, chested down a long pass from Mohammed Al-Fatil and scored with a low shot from the left side of the area.
CELEBRATORY GOAL, STANDING OVATION
With 21 minutes left in the game, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner celebrated exuberantly after heading in a corner from Marcelo Brozovic. He was substituted five minutes later, receiving a standing ovation from the home fans.
This wrapped up an eventful season for Ronaldo, marked by four hat tricks and one red card. He also faced suspension in February for an obscene gesture directed at Al-Shabab fans who had been chanting the name of his longtime rival, Lionel Messi.
Al-Nassr finished second in the league, 14 points behind local rival Al-Hilal, which clinched the championship over two weeks ago and completed the 34-round league unbeaten.
AL-HILAL’S DOMINANT SEASON
Al-Hilal remained dominant despite Neymar’s absence, who joined the club in August from Paris Saint-Germain but suffered a season-ending ACL injury in October.
Aleksandar Mitrovic filled the void, scoring in the final seconds to secure a 2-1 win over Al-Wehda. The Serbian striker, signed from Fulham last summer, finished the season with 27 league goals, second only to Ronaldo.
Al-Hilal set a new world record for a top-tier team with a 34-game winning streak in all competitions.
“This season has been truly exceptional for the team, arguably our best ever,” said coach Jorge Jesus. “The credit goes to the immense talent within the squad and the incredible sense of unity both on and off the field.”
AL-ITTIHAD’S DISAPPOINTING SEASON
Al-Ittihad’s loss to Al-Nassr capped a disappointing season for the defending champion. Despite signing Karim Benzema from Real Madrid, the team struggled with injuries. Even with N’Golo Kante and Fabinho in midfield, signed from Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, Al-Ittihad only managed fifth place.
Poor results led to the dismissal of coach Nuno Santo in November. The Portuguese coach returned to the English Premier League a month later to manage Nottingham Forest.
AL-AHLI FINISHES THIRD
Al-Ahli, one of the ‘Big Four’ clubs taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund last June, finished third, 17 points behind Al-Nassr. Al-Ahli secured a 1-0 victory over Al-Fayha, thanks to a late goal from former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, his ninth of the season.
Ronaldo, however, stole the headlines and still has one more opportunity to add to his trophy collection when Al-Nassr meets Al-Hilal in the King’s Cup final on Friday.
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