Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice as Al Nassr clinch Saudi title, Jesus confirms departure [video] | OneFootball

Ronaldo marked Al Nassr’s big night with two goals [Getty Images]

Al Nassr 4-1 Damac

Al Nassr are champions of Saudi Arabia after Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help Jorge Jesus’ side clinch the Pro League on Thursday evening.

On the final matchday of the league campaign, Al Nassr needed to equal the result achieved by rivals Al Hilal in order to secure their first league title in seven years. With João Félix also in Jesus’ starting line-up, the hosts ultimately breezed to a comfortable victory in Riyadh.

Elsewhere, Al Hilal won 1-0 at Al Fayha despite Rúben Neves missing a penalty, meaning a victory proved crucial for Ronaldo’s men. Goals from Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane and Frenchman Kingsley Coman set Al Nassr on their way, after which it was fitting that Portugal captain Ronaldo stole the show late on with a brace after Morlaye Sylla’s penalty for the visitors had made it 2-1.

First, Ronaldo restored his team’s two-goal cushion with a free-kick on 63 minutes, before a clinical finish put the game to bed with ten minutes on the clock. As time ticked towards the final whistle, Ronaldo became visibly overwhelmed with emotion ahead of being substituted to a standing ovation.

Félix: “I know how much Ronaldo wanted this”

Speaking after the final whistle, João Félix addressed the difficulty in making Al Nassr champions. The former Benfica forward has been integral for his team this season, contributing 33 goal involvements in the league, consisting of 20 goals and 13 assists.

“It’s special because this was a greatly competitive season,” Félix said. “Winning with Al Nassr here in Saudi Arabia isn’t easy. In Portugal, you probably don’t know, but there’s much more to it than just football, and Al Nassr is a smaller club. Winning the league here is very difficult, and we managed it. It’s a memorable day for all the fans and for the club.

“I know because I’m with [Ronaldo] every day and I know how much he’s suffered with this situation. I know how much he wanted to win and I went to hug him because I thought: 'It’s almost over. Just a few more minutes and you can celebrate'.

“My decision to come to Saudi? When I make a decision, I make it thoughtfully. The opportunity to come to Al Nassr wasn’t decided in a day. Everything was carefully considered, and from the moment I accepted, I went all in. Sometimes things go well, sometimes they don’t. This time I think it went perfectly.”

Jesus to leave post

Jorge Jesus confirmed during his post-match interview that the game was his last in charge and he will leave Al Nassr. The 71-year-old has now amassed an impressive haul of 24 trophies as a manager, just two behind José Mourinho’ record of 26, which is the most of any Portuguese boss in history.

"This was the last game I played for Al Nassr,” Jesus announced. “Now I’m going to Portugal, I’ll spend three or four days in Portugal and then I plan to go to Brazil. You can see me in Brazil, but not coaching - only on vacation.

“It was a very difficult job. When I accepted this challenge, this project, to which Cris and José Semedo invited me, I knew it was the most difficult challenge of my coaching career. Why? Because I knew that, on the other side, Al Hilal (Jesus’ former club) had spent two years building a great team, with great players. And to win this championship, against Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad, we had to be much better than our opponents.

“And we had a spectacular championship. Al Nassr hadn’t been champions for seven or eight years, hadn’t won a title, and as I told Cris: 'I’m going to help you become champion and then I’ll move on with my life.'

“Ronaldo has my type of energy. In fact he has more of that energy than me and a great passion for football. I told him that I only accepted the Al Nassr project because of him; if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have come. I told him he was going to leave here with a title because he deserved it, and that’s what happened.”

Türkiye return on the cards?

So where next for Jesus, who turns 72 this summer? The veteran boss will no doubt be in high demand after adding another trophy to his cabinet. When pressed about rumours of interest from Türkiye, where Jesus coached Fenerbahçe, the former Braga, Benfica and Sporting boss hinted it could be his destination.

“Me winning in several countries? There’s a Jorge Jesus effect. And it’s not just in Saudi Arabia. I won in Portugal, I won in Brazil... in fact, the people who work with me won at Flamengo, Fenerbahçe, Al Hilal, and now Al Nassr. The only country where I wasn’t champion, despite winning the Cup, was Turkey, with Fenerbahçe. I have an unfinished story there, perhaps.

“Türkiye in my future? It’s one of the possibilities I’m considering. I’ll think about it. It’s not just Fenerbahçe. There’s another Turkish club that also made me an offer. In Türkiye there are three big clubs: Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Besiktas. So, you already know which two I’m interested in.

“Football is my passion. I’m a coach who also loses, of course, but wins most of the time. And when projects end, I usually have several options to choose from, as I do now. In Europe it’s difficult, because it’s impossible for them to pay what I earn in Saudi Arabia. No European club has the capacity for that. I won’t continue in Saudi Arabia, but we’ll see what the next project is. My passion remains intact. I still have great intellectual and physical capacity. This is my life.

“Ronaldo and I haven’t had much time to talk yet. He’s super tired and so am I. Now he’s going to the national team, I’m going to Portugal for two or three days and then I’m going to travel. In June I’ll have to decide my life and make a decision.

“I need to be in a country that is very good sportingly. Financially, Saudi Arabia was excellent, but I also need to have a social life, friends... and that’s it.”

Ronaldo, who had not won a league title since lifting Serie A with Juventus in the 2019-20 season, ended the night taking a central role in celebrations, including a stint playing bass drum. As his career goals tally moves onto 973, the Seleção skipper joins up with his country with some clear milestones still to achieve.