Cristiano Ronaldo left stunned as Al Nassr’s title dream collapses in stoppage time

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr were moments away from a potentially title-clinching victory before a dramatic late own goal against Al Hilal turned celebration into disbelief on Tuesday night.

Al Nassr conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw after goalkeeper Bento accidentally diverted a long throw into his own net in the eighth minute of added time, denying the club the chance to seal the Saudi Pro League title.

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The result leaves the title race alive heading into the final stretch of the season and prolongs Ronaldo’s wait for his first domestic league trophy in Saudi Arabia since joining the club in 2023.

Ronaldo reacts as title celebrations collapse late

With the home crowd preparing to celebrate what looked like a decisive victory, the game took a dramatic turn deep into stoppage time.

Al Nassr had protected a narrow lead for most of the contest after defender Mohamed Simakan scored from a corner in the 37th minute. The hosts also came close to doubling their advantage before halftime when Kingsley Coman struck the post.

But chaos unfolded in the moments when a long throw into the box created confusion in Al Nassr’s defence. Goalkeeper Bento failed to clear the danger and inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.

Television footage showed Ronaldo watching from the sidelines in visible disbelief as the equaliser crushed the club’s immediate title hopes. The Portuguese forward later posted a message on social media attempting to rally supporters despite the setback.

“The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take! Thank you all for the amazing support tonight!” Ronaldo wrote.

Saudi Pro League title race still open

Despite the dramatic draw, Al Nassr remain top of the Saudi Pro League table with 83 points from 33 matches. Al Hilal trail by five points but still have a game in hand, keeping the title race mathematically alive.

Al Nassr can still secure the championship by defeating Damac in their final league match on May 21. The club could also be crowned champions earlier if Al Hilal fail to win their next fixture against Neom.

The late setback added another emotional chapter to Ronaldo’s Saudi journey, with the 41-year-old still chasing a domestic league crown after his high-profile move helped transform the global visibility of Saudi football.

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Ronaldo’s arrival in 2023 triggered a wave of star signings across the league and significantly increased international attention around the Saudi Pro League. Yet despite individual milestones and strong scoring form, a league title has continued to elude the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star.

Now, after one of the most dramatic endings of the Saudi season, Al Nassr’s title fate will be decided over the final days of the campaign.