After more than two years in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo stands on the verge of claiming his first major silverware with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. With just three matchdays remaining in the campaign, his club holds a five-point cushion over city rivals Al-Hilal, though the gap could narrow given that the second-placed side has an outstanding fixture. A high-stakes head-to-head between the two clubs is scheduled for next Tuesday, and it may well determine where the title ends up.
A Title Race Clouded by Accusations of Manipulation
The final stretch of the Saudi Pro League season has been overshadowed by allegations that the outcome is being engineered in favour of Ronaldo’s club. Ivan Toney, who has found the net 27 times for Al-Ahli this term, has been among the most vocal critics. Despite his prolific output, the Jeddah-based outfit has slipped out of contention in what had been a four-club battle until just weeks ago.
The flashpoint came after a 1-1 stalemate against Al-Fayha in early April, when disputed penalty calls went unawarded. The England international did not hold back. According to available information, Toney claimed the referee had told his side to concentrate on the AFC Champions League rather than the domestic title, adding that the influence behind such decisions was plain to see. When pressed on who stood to gain, he pointed unmistakably toward Al-Nassr.
Brazilian winger Galeno echoed his teammate’s frustration, taking to social media to accuse the authorities of trying to hand the trophy to a single individual by any means necessary. He described the situation as a complete lack of respect for Al-Ahli as a club. The Saudi Arabia Football Federation‘s disciplinary and ethics committee subsequently fined both players for their public statements.
Remarkably, Al-Hilal themselves sit second in the table despite remaining unbeaten across all 30 of their league matches under manager Simone Inzaghi — a feat that has done little to ease the pressure on the Italian coach. Their game in hand against Al-Nassr next Tuesday looms as the pivotal moment of the entire season.
The Riyadh Showdown and Ronaldo’s Response
Despite their domestic disappointment, Al-Ahli had reason to celebrate on the continental stage. The club lifted the AFC Champions League title on 25 April, and when they travelled to Riyadh four days later to face Al-Nassr, their supporters made sure the home crowd heard about it. Defender Merih Demiral paraded his winners’ medal in front of the Al-Nassr faithful — a pointed reminder that the Riyadh club has never conquered Asia’s top club competition, though they are set to contest the final of the AFC Champions League Two against Japan’s Gamba Osaka on 16 May.
Al-Nassr, however, had the final word on the night. Goals from Ronaldo — his 970th in professional football — and Kingsley Coman, who struck in stoppage time, sealed a 2-0 victory in a fractious encounter. The former Bayern Munich winger celebrated directly in front of Toney, with Ronaldo joining in the provocation after the referee’s final whistle.
Ronaldo himself weighed in on the controversy surrounding the title race. He argued that the wave of complaints was damaging to the league’s reputation, insisting that football is a competitive sport and not a conflict. He stated that he had witnessed many troubling incidents throughout the season and intended to speak out once the campaign concluded. He also took aim at players who had aired their grievances on social media, suggesting that such behaviour ran counter to the league’s broader ambitions.
PIF’s Shifting Strategy and the Political Backdrop
The political context surrounding the title race is equally significant. It has become known that earlier in the year, Ronaldo had sat out two league matches, with reports at the time suggesting he was dissatisfied with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) showing preferential treatment toward Al-Hilal while the fund still held ownership of all four so-called “Big Four” clubs.
The situation has since evolved considerably. Last month, PIF divested a 70% stake in Al-Hilal to Kingdom Holding Company, a business controlled by Prince al-Waleed bin Talal, a member of the Saudi royal family. The fund described the transaction as consistent with its strategy to generate returns and redirect capital within the domestic economy, in line with its goals of advancing the development and diversification of Saudi Arabia.
Whether Ronaldo’s apparent change in mood is connected to this ownership shift remains a matter of speculation. What is clear is that, at a moment when PIF is scaling back certain sporting commitments, one of its most prominent acquisitions is positioned to deliver a headline-grabbing achievement — and the league’s most contentious title race in recent memory is heading toward a dramatic conclusion.
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