While the last-minute draw against Al Hilal will undoubtedly leave Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr filled with regret, the bitter result has unintentionally paved the way for a truly historic scenario. The Saudi Arabian powerhouse now has the unique opportunity to secure a spectacular trophy double on the exact same day.
A Heartbreaking Delay at Al-Awwal Park
Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of lifting the Saudi Pro League trophy were temporarily put on hold following a dramatic 1-1 draw in the Riyadh Derby. A devastating mistake by goalkeeper Bento in the dying seconds of the match cost Al Nassr the victory, snatching away their chance to clinch the league title early.
The unbelievable late equalizer left everyone at Al-Awwal Park in stunned silence. The broadcast cameras quickly captured the Portuguese superstar looking visibly crushed on the substitute bench, watching his team drop the championship right at the finish line.
The Perfect Scenario for a Historic Double
However, instead of wrapping up the title race with a monumental win over their city rivals, Ronaldo and Al Nassr are now staring down the barrel of an unprecedented achievement. Bento’s costly error might have actually created the ultimate script: winning two major trophies within a matter of hours.
On May 17, Al Nassr could make history by being crowned champions of both the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League Two. Remarkably, Ronaldo and his teammates won’t even need to play two matches simultaneously for this to happen.
Currently, Al Hilal sits at 78 points and is the only team mathematically capable of catching league leaders Al Nassr (83 points). Al Hilal is scheduled to face Neom at 23:05 on May 16 (Vietnam time). Crucially, this domestic fixture kicks off just under two hours before Al Nassr takes the pitch against Japanese side Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final (00:45 on May 17).
A Night of Destiny for CR7
The math is simple: if Al Hilal fails to secure a victory against 8th-placed Neom, Al Nassr will officially be crowned Saudi Pro League champions before the final whistle even blows in their Asian continental final.
A draw or a loss for Al Hilal would instantly hand Ronaldo his first official piece of silverware since joining the club. This means CR7 could go from experiencing a painful trophy drought in Saudi Arabia to lifting two massive titles in the span of a single evening—an unprecedented milestone even for a legend with his staggering resume.
Even if this “double-in-one-day” fairy tale does not materialize, Al Nassr still holds a massive advantage in the title race. Regardless of Al Hilal’s results, Ronaldo’s squad only needs to secure a win against relegation-threatened Damac in the final round of the season to guarantee they lift the Saudi Pro League trophy.
