Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Al Ain Test as Al Qadsiah Gatecrash Saudi Pro League Title Race

The final round of the Saudi Pro League before the first international break of 2026/27 takes place over the weekend. The league table is already taking shape, with some familiar names at the top alongside a few unfamiliar ones.

Al Nassr got back to winning ways on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over bottom club Abha. Ange Postecoglou's side suffered a setback in their previous match when they fell to the same scoreline away to Al Ittihad. That defeat left the door open for Al Hilal to take advantage and potentially open up a six-point lead over their neighbours in their game against Neom. However, Neom had other ideas, claiming a hard-fought 2-0 win that catapulted the futuristic city side up to fourth in the table and inflicted a first league defeat on Hilal in 47 matches.

That loss put the pressure back on Nassr to get a result at home to Abha, and they duly obliged thanks to goals in either half from Cristiano Ronaldo and Abdullah Al Hamdan. The win took Nassr level on 15 points with league leaders Hilal.

“The most important thing is that we won. The last match was frustrating, even though our level was good,” Postecoglou told Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. “We have won six of seven matches [across competitions], and I think we have proved ourselves. We have faced many challenges that we have suffered this season, and we also suffered injuries in the 80th minute, so I give credit to the players.”

As well as Ronaldo, Postecoglou was able to field Ballon d'Or nominee Sadio Mane, but was without Joao Felix, who served an automatic one-match ban for accumulating four yellow cards. The Portuguese playmaker cut a frustrated figure during and after the defeat at Ittihad, and caused a stir after the match when he refused to talk to media, saying cryptically: “I won't speak to you, because if I do, I'll expose the league.” That was largely interpreted as a not-so-thinly veiled dig at match officials after Joao Felix was incensed at some of the decisions that went against Nassr.

In his compatriot's absence, Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, rising above his marker to meet an Angelo corner and powering a header that struck the post before crossing the line. It took the Portuguese superstar a step closer to 1,000 goals, with the effort against Abha the 979th of his senior career. It was his third goal in five appearances for Nassr this season, leaving him with an average of 0.60 goals per game. If he keeps up that pace, Ronaldo would require around 35 matches to score the 21 goals that would see him reach that four-digit milestone this campaign. Ronaldo now has the added benefit of AFC Champions League football this term, with Nassr's first assignment being a trip to the UAE to face domestic champions Al Ain in the Garden City on Tuesday.

While Saudi Arabia's most decorated club and its reigning champions are usually in the title conversation, the sight of Al Qadsiah mixing it with the big boys is perhaps more surprising. Qadsiah's 3-2 win over Al Ahli Saudi on Tuesday was their fifth win in six league games, putting them level on points with the illustrious Riyadh rivals at the top of the standings. Brendan Rodgers took charge of the Eastern Province club only in December and has found sunshine in the kingdom after previously leaving Celtic.

Qadsiah rode the coattails as Nassr and Hilal battled for supremacy last season before finishing fourth, which guaranteed Asian Champions League football and significant financial backing. Rodgers already had a proven goalscorer in Julian Quinones, who outgunned all rivals to win the Golden Boot with 33 strikes last season and was recently nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or. In midfield, Musab Al Juwayr has displayed a maturity beyond his years since his move from Hilal in 2025, while summer marquee signing Tijjani Reijnders has hit the ground running with two goals in the win over Al Ahli. Rodgers also has the experience of Italian striker Mateo Retegui and Spanish defender Nacho at his disposal as they look to disrupt the top teams.

Meanwhile, Neom have proved to be a complete anomaly. Their 2-0 win over leaders Hilal inflicted a first defeat for Simone Inzaghi since taking charge at Kingdom Arena in the summer of 2025, moving Neom up to 12 points and fifth in the table. Hilal were undone by a Kalidou Koulibaly own goal and an Amadou Kone strike, alongside the heroics of Marcin Bulka in goal for Neom. Christophe Galtier's side successfully kept out an attacking troika costing around $200 million featuring Premier League summer recruits Gabriel Martinelli, Ollie Watkins, and Crysencio Summerville. Captain Koulibaly admitted Hilal did not deserve anything out of the game and must use the international break to regroup.