“Nassrawis… what a season. From day one, we knew what we wanted and what it would take to get there. We worked, fought and gave everything in every training and every game. It wasn’t an easy road, but we did it together. Thank you for believing in us and standing by our side every step of the way,” CR7 stated via X.

After scoring a brace in the 4-1 victory, Cristiano Ronaldo lifted another trophy in his career ahead of the World Cup. The legendary forward’s trophy cabinet continues to grow, and there is still time for even more achievements.

Cristiano Ronaldo chasing the 1,000-goal mark

Cristiano Ronaldo showed no signs of slowing down in the Saudi Pro League, clinical as ever as he netted twice against Damac FC to take his tally to an incredible 28 goals this season. The historic night also pushed him closer to the mythical milestone of four digits, leaving Ronaldo in tears after hitting a brace to reach his No. 973 career goals.

With the elusive 1,000-goal mark looming larger than ever, the Portuguese icon’s emotional reaction proved that despite everything he has won, every single milestone on this relentless march to history still means the absolute world to him.

What’s next for CR7?

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to captain Portugal in the upcoming 2026 World Cup before returning to Al Nassr to fulfill his current contract, which runs through June 2027.

Having signed a lucrative two-year extension last summer that anchors him as the world’s highest-paid athlete, the 41-year-old icon remains fully committed to the Saudi project, with no signs of slowing down after securing his first Saudi Pro League title.

Ronaldo finished the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season with 28 goals, including a vital brace in the championship-clinching match that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. He narrowly trailed Ivan Toney, who finished his impressive campaign with 32 goals.

This season marks the official end of Ronaldo’s dominance over the Golden Boot for two straight seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Despite his consistency, his streak of back-to-back scoring titles finally came to an end this year, but he likely won’t mind given the massive Saudi Pro League prize money.

How many goals has Ronaldo scored with Al Nassr?

Since making his high-profile move to Riyadh in 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo has reached a remarkable milestone by scoring exactly 102 goals across all competitions for Al Nassr. His prolific nature has seen him become the first player in football history to reach triple digits for four different clubs, proving that his scoring instincts remain sharp well into his forties.

While his current scoring rate is elite, it remains a shadow of his peak years at Real Madrid, where he famously netted a career-best 48 goals in the 2014-15 La Liga season. His output in Saudi Arabia is more comparable to his 2007-08 Manchester United campaign, where he scored 31 league goals.

So far, Ronaldo’s most productive period in a yellow jersey occurred during the 2023-24 season, when he set a then-league record by scoring 35 goals. Now that he won his first official title with Al Nassr, many wonder how many Lionel Messi has lifted with Inter Miami in comparison, but CR7’s primary focus remains the trophy he finally raised today.

FIFA World Cup 2006:

• 2005–06 League Cup champion (Manchester United)

FIFA World Cup 2010:

• No titles won in the 2009–10 season (Real Madrid)

FIFA World Cup 2014:

• 2013–14 Copa del Rey champion (Real Madrid)
• 2013–14 UEFA Champions League winner (Real Madrid)

FIFA World Cup 2018:

• 2017 Spanish Super Cup champion (Real Madrid)
• 2017–18 UEFA Champions League winner (Real Madrid)
• 2017 UEFA Super Cup champion (Real Madrid)
• 2017 FIFA Club World Cup champion (Real Madrid)

FIFA World Cup 2022:

• No titles won in the 2021–22 season (Juventus and Manchester United)

Cristiano Ronaldo can still win other trophies with Al Nassr after securing this SPL title. He will definitely try to be crowned with his club again, but now his main focus has shifted to the World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo is historic for the FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the final edition featuring Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star has won two major trophies with his country, yet the sport’s biggest international prize has eluded him so far.

Across 22 total appearances in the five different editions he has played so far, Cristiano Ronaldo has racked up eight goals and two assists. He holds the unique distinction of being the first male player to score in five consecutive World Cup tournaments.

Russia 2018 stands out as his most explosive individual World Cup performance to date. In that tournament, he scored four goals, highlighted by an unforgettable hat-trick against Spain to secure a dramatic 3-3 draw.

In the upcoming edition, Cristiano Ronaldo will try to secure the title in what is set to be his last opportunity. Fresh off his SPL triumph, he will arrive at the tournament with massive confidence as he aims for the most prestigious trophy a football player can lift.

With this Saudi Pro League title, Ronaldo reached a total of 36 trophies won in his career at club and national team level. Meanwhile, Messi holds the upper hand in this area with 46 career titles to his name.

Al Nassr put on a brilliant performance, featuring goals from Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a brace and secured his 973rd career goal. The goal-scoring display from one of the best players in history, who has chased this title for so long, could not be missed.

Ronaldo and Messi’s club titles

Ronaldo had a much bigger journey across different clubs than Messi. The Portuguese star played for Sporting CP, Manchester United (two stints), Real Madrid and Juventus before landing at Al Nassr. Messi, on the other hand, has only played for three clubs: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s club titles

1. Man.United – UEFA Champions League (2008)
2. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2014)
3. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2016)
4. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2017)
5. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2018)
6. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2014)
7. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2016)
8. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2017)
9. Man.United – FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
10. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2014)
11. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2016)
12. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2017)
13. Man.United – English Premier League (2007)
14. Man.United – English Premier League (2008)
15. Man.United – English Premier League (2009)
16. Real Madrid – LaLiga (2012)
17. Real Madrid – LaLiga (2017)
18. Juventus – Scudetto Serie A (2019)
19. Juventus – Scudetto Serie A (2020)
20. Man.United – FA Cup (2004)
21. Man.United – EFL Cup (2006)
22. Man.United – EFL Cup (2009)
23. Real Madrid – Copa del Rey (2011)
24. Real Madrid – Copa del Rey (2014)
25. Juventus – Coppa Italia (2021)
26. Sporting CP – Supertaca Candido de Oliveira (2002)
27. Man.United – FA Community Shield (2007)
28. Man.United – FA Community Shield (2008)
29. Real Madrid – Spanish Super Cup (2012)
30. Real Madrid – Spanish Super Cup (2017)
31. Juventus – Supercoppa Italiana (2019)
32. Juventus – Supercoppa Italiana (2021)
33. Al Nassr – Saudi Pro League (2026)

* The Arab Club Champions Cup won with Al Nassr in 2023 isn’t recognized as an official title by FIFA or the AFC.

Lionel Messi’s club titles

1. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2006)
2. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2009)
3. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2011)
4. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2015)
5. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2009)
6. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2011)
7. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2015)
8. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2009)
9. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2011)
10. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2015)
11. Barcelona – LaLiga (2005)
12. Barcelona – LaLiga (2006)
13. Barcelona – LaLiga (2009)
14. Barcelona – LaLiga (2010)
15. Barcelona – LaLiga (2011)
16. Barcelona – LaLiga (2013)
17. Barcelona – LaLiga (2015)
18. Barcelona – LaLiga (2016)
19. Barcelona – LaLiga (2018)
20. Barcelona – LaLiga (2019)
21. PSG – Ligue 1 (2022)
22. PSG – Ligue 1 (2023)
23. Inter Miami – Supporters Shield (2024)
24. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2009)
25. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2012)
26. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2015)
27. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2016)
28. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2017)
29. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2018)
30. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2021)
31. Inter Miami – MLS Cup (2025)
32. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2005)
33. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2006)
34. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2009)
35. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2010)
36. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2011)
37. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2013)
38. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2016)
39. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2018)
40. PSG – Trophee des Champions (2022)
41. Inter Miami – Leagues Cup (2023)

International titles

On the international stage, Messi and Ronaldo made a notable difference by winning titles, Messi leading Argentina back to world glory after so many years, and Ronaldo putting Portugal on the map by helping win the nation’s first titles.

Ronaldo’s international trophies with Portugal:

1. UEFA European Championship (2016)
2. UEFA Nations League (2019)
3. UEFA Nations League (2025)

Messi’s international accolades with Argentina:

1. Copa America (2021)
2. CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (2022)
3. FIFA World Cup (2022)
4. Copa America (2024)
5. Olympic Gold Medal (2008)

* At the youth level, Messi also won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Argentina in 2005.

The biggest opportunity comes, undoubtedly, in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal’s 2026 World Cup roster. This is likely the last World Cup for Ronaldo, so motivation is at an all-time high.

Also, Al Nassr remain in contention for the Saudi Super Cup, a tournament that features the top teams from the Saudi Pro League and King’s Cup. As Saudi Pro League winners, CR7 and his team will be there.

Al Nassr winning Saudi Pro League is a sigh of relief for Cristiano Ronaldo

Since Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Saudi lands to play for Al Nassr, the team had only won the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, a trophy not recognized by FIFA. Hence, this is the first official title Cristiano Ronaldo has won with Al Nassr.

While it took longer than expected, the fact is Cristiano Ronaldo can finally say he guided Al Nassr to the promised land. Ronaldo was also the team’s top scorer in the season, with 28 goals in the Saudi Pro League, including two in the final game of the season against Damac, that pretty much sealed the trophy for Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo has just one debt in his career: A World Cup title

Arguably one of the best three soccer players to ever step foot on the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo has accomplished absolutely everything a soccer player could dream of, except for one: the World Cup title, which is the holy grail of soccer competitions.

In 2026, Portugal have a stacked roster where Ronaldo doesn’t even need to be heroic. Other players can take the load, and he just needs to focus on one thing, scoring goals. If Ronaldo is able to win the World Cup, he could go into new heights in the historic ranks of soccer.

It was not perfect, but Al Nassr found a way. Despite the heartbreaking draw in Matchweek 33 against Al Hilal , the yellow side bounced back at home against Damac and are the brand-new league champions in Saudi Arabia. Thanks to Sadio Mane’s header—assisted by Joao Felix from a corner kick—Al Nassr broke the deadlock and cast their nerves aside before the break.

In such a special night, it had to be Ronaldo who closed out the game with a brace. Cristiano established the final 4-1 scoreline to crown Al Nassr as Saudi Pro League champions once again. The updated league standings after the final matchweek reflect Ronaldo and Al Nassr’s historic campaign.

Al Nassr: SPL champions once again

Al Nassr won their 11th league title (fourth Saudi Pro League) as Cristiano snapped his championship drought in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Al Hilal finished in the runner-up position for the 17th time in league history.

For the first time since the 2018-19 campaign, Al Nassr reign supreme in Saudi Arabian soccer’s top-flight competition. Al Nassr had finished in second place in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, so its latest crowning was some much-needed closure for a fanbase that has been through an awful lot of heartbreak.

Al Hilal finish in second

To make things sweeter for the yellow club in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Al Nassr left Al Hilal in second place, just as they did in 2019. In fact, four of the club’s last five league titles have seen its cross-Riyadh rivals finish as runners-up.

For Ronaldo, he fell at the gates of the league championship in two of his first three seasons in The Kingdom. Finally, he has found the charm and Ronaldo is headed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a league champ. Cristiano and Al Nassr are top two, and they are not No. 2.

Goal scorers table

With his decisive screamer—and another goal for good measure—against Damac, Ronaldo put the cherry on top to an unforgettable 2025-26 Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr. Ronaldo finished third in scoring with 28 tallies. Meanwhile, Julian Quinones climbed to the top of the league rankings with a hat-trick, reaching the 33-goal total. Ivan Toney and his 32 goals finished second.

Saudi Pro League’s assist leader

Although all the eyes and spotlight were fixed on Cristiano, fellow countryman Joao Felix had a night to remember as well. The Portuguese star—once called Ronaldo’s successor—recorded a crucial assist when the ball was heavy and Al Nassr had no answers for Damac’s defensive block.

Reaching his 13th assist of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League campaign, Felix finished the season as the league’s top assister. Kostas Fortounis and Christopher Bonsu Baah finished second and third with 12 and 11 assists, respectively.

In fact, Messi’s trophy haul with Inter Miami has grown to four, highlighted by a dominant 2025 campaign in which he secured both the MLS Cup and the Eastern Conference title. His trophy cabinet in South Florida also includes the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield.

While Ronaldo previously hoisted the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, the tournament’s unofficial status meant it didn’t count toward his sanctioned tally. For a player who has spent a lifetime collecting major trophies, the wait for official gold with Al Nassr had become a surprising subplot of his tenure.

Now, all eyes turn toward the 2026 World Cup in North America. Messi is slated to lead Argentina’s title defense, while Ronaldo aims to guide Portugal to the one trophy that has eluded him, adding to a legendary international resume that already includes Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League titles.

Ronaldo and Messi’s league records

While Messi holds the edge in team trophies compared to Cristiano, and both icons have produced staggering individual numbers, proving that their dominance remains undiminished by age or geography.

A closer look at their impact in the Saudi Pro League and MLS reveals the following:

• Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr milestones:
  • Ronaldo became the first player in Saudi Pro League history to score against every opponent (17 teams) in a single campaign.
  • He reached the 100-goal mark in just 105 appearances, shattering the league record for the fastest to a century.
  • With 26 league goals so far this season, he is on track to become the oldest top scorer in the history of the Saudi top flight.
  • He holds the Al Nassr record for most goals in a single campaign across all competitions (currently 35+ for the 25–26 season).

• Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami milestones:
  • Messi became the fastest player in MLS history to reach 100 regular season goal contributions (goals + assists), doing so in just 64 games, obliterating Sebastian Giovinco’s previous mark of 95.
  • He holds Inter Miami’s single-season scoring record with 29 goals in 2025.
  • He co-holds the record for most assists in a single MLS match (5 assists vs. NY Red Bulls in 2024).
  • Messi is the highest-paid player in league history, with a $25 million base salary and total guaranteed compensation of $28.3 million (with total annual earnings estimated at $135M+ including commercial deals).

The final race: The all-time goal record

With Cristiano Ronaldo currently sitting at 973 career goals and Lionel Messi at 910, the race to the 1.000-goal barrier is in its final stretch. As the 2026 World Cup approaches and their respective league seasons continue, both players have a legitimate shot at the milestone, though Ronaldo remains the odds-on favorite to be the first to reach the quadruple-digit mark.

First, CR7 connected on a precise free kick that managed to beat the visiting side’s defense. With many players in the middle, the goalkeeper could not track the ball’s direction and was unable to stop it.

Later, with just a handful of minutes left in the match, the Portuguese forward finished clinically inside the box, scoring his brace and making it 4–1 in the game.

Previously, Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman had given Al Nassr a 2–0 lead. The match regained excitement after Damac FC managed to pull one back through a penalty kick.

Jorge Jesus’ squad claimed a title that has eluded the club for quite some time. In this way, Cristiano Ronaldo finally could celebrate his first official championship since arriving in the Saudi Pro League, and added a new title to his career, putting him neck and neck with Lionel Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo among the top scorers rankings

Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up another prolific campaign by reaching his 28th goal of the Saudi Pro League season, securing third place in the Golden Boot race. In a highly competitive year that pushed the league’s top strikers to historic numbers, Ronaldo’s clinical finishing wasn’t quite enough to catch the two frontrunners ahead of him.

After 34 intense fixtures, Al-Qadsiah’s Julian Quiñones claimed the top spot with an incredible 33 goals, closely followed by Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney, who finished just a step behind at 32.

Al Nassr controlled the match from the opening minutes and finally broke through in the 34th minute when Sadio Mane headed home from a corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Kingsley Coman doubled the advantage shortly after halftime, continuing the team’s strong attacking performance.

Damac briefly responded through a Morlaye Silla penalty in the 58th minute, but Cristiano Ronaldo quickly restored control of the match. The Portuguese star scored from a free kick in the 63rd minute before adding another goal in the 81st to reach 973 career goals and seal the victory in front of a packed Al-Awwal Park crowd.

The final whistle confirmed Al Nassr as Saudi Pro League champions, with Ronaldo achieving his season‑long objective and lifting yet another trophy in his legendary career. The title was sealed by a narrow two‑point margin, with Al Nassr finishing on 86 points, just ahead of Al Hilal’s 84.

The competition uses the traditional 3-point system for a win and 1 point for a draw, so matches in the closing stages can significantly influence final standings, qualification places and how the overall season is assessed.

At this stage of the competition, teams like Al Hilal enter matches knowing that even small margins can influence end-of-season outcomes, whether in the title race, qualification scenarios or the distribution of Saudi Pro League prize money.

What happens if Al Hilal beat Al Fayha today?

Al Hilal need to win today to keep their title aspirations alive. If Al Nassr don’t beat Namac today, a victory will see Al Hilal clinch the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title.

With a win today, Al Hilal will reach 84 points. Al Nassr have 83, but even if they finished tied on points, the tiebreaker favors Al Hilal due to their head-to-head record against Cristiano Ronaldo and company. Before their recent 1-1 draw that prevented Al Nassr from securing the title, Al Hilal beat Al Nassr in January.

Therefore, an Al Hilal win paired with an Al Nassr tie or loss would clinch the title for Karim Benzema’s team. But if Al Hilal win and Al Nassr also claim three points, Ronaldo’s side would lift the Saudi Pro League trophy.

What happens if Al Hilal and Al Fayha tie today?

If Al Hilal and Al Fayha draw, Al Nassr will win the Saudi Pro League regardless of their own result against Damac. A tie would see Al Hilal finish with 82 points, meaning they could no longer reach the team led by Ronaldo.

What happens if Al Hilal lose to Al Fayha today?

A loss to Al Fayha will also hand the Saudi Pro League title to Al Nassr, as Al Hilal would finish the campaign with 81 points. It would be the first league defeat of the 2025-26 season for Benzema and company.

Saudi Pro League top table ahead of Al Hilal vs. Al Fayha

If Al Nassr secure a win, they would clinch the championship. A defeat would put immediate pressure on CR7’s team, potentially leaving the club empty-handed.

Against Damac, the stakes are clear: win and stay on track, or risk being dragged into a more difficult finish to the campaign. A title win would not only secure the trophy, but also increase the club’s earnings through the Saudi Pro League’s prize money, reportedly bigger than that in MLS.

What happens if Al Nassr beat Damac today?

If Al Nassr defeat Damac, they will clinch the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title by reaching 86 points in the standings. Ronaldo and company enter the final matchday at the top of the standings, knowing that a victory guarantees the championship.

A win would complete one of Al Nassr’s strongest domestic campaigns in recent years and deliver the club’s first league crown since 2019. It would also represent Ronaldo’s first Saudi Pro League title since arriving in Riyadh in late 2022.

What happens if Al Nassr and Damac tie today?

If Al Nassr and Damac draw, Al Nassr would move to 84 points and leave the title race open depending on Al Hilal’s result. A draw will be enough for Al Nassr to finish first as long as Al Hilal don’t beat Al Fayha.

If Al Nassr draw and Al Hilal win, both would be tied on 84 points but Al Hilal would finish first due to their head-to-head record. Al Hilal beat Al Nassr in January before their recent 1-1 draw, which left the title race wide open.

What happens if Al Nassr lose to Damac today?

If Al Nassr lose to Damac, they will remain on 83 points. If Al Hilal defeat Al Fayha today, a loss to Damac would see Al Nassr finish in second place.

But if Al Nassr lose and Al Hilal don’t win, Ronaldo and company would still win the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title. Jorge Jesus’ team is in a strong position, but everything’s wide open ahead of the season finale.

Saudi Pro League top table ahead of Al Nassr vs. Damac