Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-awaited Saudi Pro League title celebration was put on hold on Tuesday night after a dramatic late twist saw Al-Nassr concede a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1–1 draw against rivals Al-Hilal at Alawwal Park.
Al-Nassr entered the highly charged derby knowing victory would effectively seal the league title. They sat top of the table on 82 points, while second-placed Al-Hilal trailed on 77 points with a game in hand, making the clash a decisive moment in the championship race.
For much of the night, Al-Nassr looked on course to deliver under pressure, holding onto a slender lead as the clock ticked toward what seemed like a defining win in their season. But football’s unpredictability struck in the dying moments.
Deep into the 90th minute, sustained pressure from Al-Hilal inside the box forced chaos in the Al-Nassr defence, culminating in a costly mistake by goalkeeper Bento, whose intervention ended up deflecting the ball into his own net. The goal was officially recorded as an own goal, silencing the home crowd and shifting the title narrative once again.
The result leaves Al-Nassr on 83 points, now five ahead of Al-Hilal, who still have a game in hand and remain firmly in the title hunt. Jorge Jesus’ side can still clinch the championship with a win over Damac on May 20, or if Al-Hilal fail to beat Neom on May 16.
The draw adds further tension to an already fierce rivalry that has long been dominated by Al-Hilal. In 63 league meetings, Al-Hilal have won 33 compared to Al-Nassr’s 14. Their last encounter in January ended in a 3–1 win for Al-Hilal, with goals from Salem Al-Dawsari, Mohamed Kanno, and Rúben Neves, while Ronaldo netted the lone goal for Al-Nassr.
Despite the setback, Al-Nassr still have another shot at silverware this week. They face Gamba Osaka in the Asian Champions League Two final on May 16, offering Ronaldo a chance to secure his first trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia.
For now, however, what looked like a title-clinching night ended in frustration — decided by a single late error that may yet define the fate of the season.