Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal from the field to lead Al-Nasr to beat Al-Ahly 2-0 in a tense and controversial match in the Saudi Professional League/Imahge:
It was an increasingly tense and tense night in Riyadh, as Cristiano Ronaldo ended up shaping the scoreline and beyond, scoring the goal that opened the game before later responding to the taunts and controversy that followed Al-Nasr’s 2-0 win over Al-Ahly, a match that quickly extended beyond football into confrontations, accusations and heated exchanges over continental success.
The outcome of the title race is wrapped in tension
The match itself had a lot of weight in the title race. Al-Nasr entered the match leading the standings and facing third-placed club Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia, and it was the gap between the two sides that actually shaped the outcome. The goal came in the 76th minute. Ronaldo rose above the defense to meet a corner kick from the left side from Joao Felix and head home, a goal that not only broke the tight contest, but also scored his 970th goal in his career.
It was another addition to a season in which he scored over 25 league goals and remained pivotal to Al-Nassr’s 20-match unbeaten run. The second goal came in the 90th minute. Kingsley Coman completed a quick attacking move on the break to make it 2-0, exposing Al Ahly as they surged forward late in the game.
With this victory, Al-Nasr is eight points ahead of Al-Hilal, which has a postponed match, and 13 points ahead of Al-Ahly.
With four matches remaining, Ronaldo’s team needs eight more points to guarantee the league title.
Early stress points and constant hostility
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first goal changed the atmosphere of the match, and it didn’t take long for things to heat up. Merih Demiral, who played with him at Juventus, participated in a number of confrontations with Al-Nasr players and also clashed with the fans, repeatedly raising two fingers in reference to the two AFC Champions League titles won by Al-Ahly. Al-Ahly recently won the AFC Champions League title in two consecutive seasons: 2024-25 and 2025-26, defeating Kawasaki Frontale and Machida Zelvia respectively under coach Matthias Geisel. Demiral’s gestures were a direct reminder of that continental success, especially in a stadium that has not been matched by victory in recent years.
The match became increasingly physical, culminating in a late incident when Koeman challenged Demiral in the dying moments.
The referee did not show the red card, a decision that became the focal point in the aftermath.
Final whistle chaos and medal provocation
As the final whistle blew, Merih Demiral went straight at Kingsley Coman and had to be blocked, with players and staff interfering from both sides as it threatened to go further. The defender was clearly unhappy with the tackle and refereeing, and the exchange quickly attracted others before spreading across the pitch.
Then he made sure it wasn’t over with the final whistle, as he walked across the field carrying his AFC Champions League medal and raised it towards the Al-Nasr fans, and at one point bit it while pointing in their direction. The message was clear enough, directed at the players as much as the fans, and it is a clear reminder from Al-Ahly of its recent continental success in contrast to Al-Nassr’s lack of titles despite the level of investment and star power in the team. Later, he reinforced this gesture on social media, writing: “For the first time, there is a Champions League medal in their stadium.”
Charges after the match
Demiral’s frustration continued in his post-match comments, as he focused on both tackling and refereeing. “Check my foot, he almost broke it. It’s a shame,” he said, referring to the challenge posed by Koeman. He then went further, pointing out the bias in favor of the league leaders. “It seems clear that the referees are helping Al Nassr, and want them to win. We always win matches and no one helps us. We will stay at the top.”The comments just added to an already heated night and also brought back the familiar complaints about refereeing in the Saudi Professional League.
Ronaldo responded on and off the field
Cristiano Ronaldo, who was named Man of the Match, was dragged on his way to the interview area when an Al Ahly fan shouted about his two AFC Champions League titles. He responded by raising his hand with five fingers and saying: “I have five Champions Leagues, five,” referring to his Champions League victories, one with Manchester United in the 2007-08 season and four with Real Madrid between 2013-14 and 2017-18.
The comparison was not actually like for like. The Champions League is widely viewed as the highest level of club football, where the strongest teams, best players and overall standard are at their peak, while the AFC Champions League, despite Al Ahly having won it twice, is nowhere near that level in terms of depth, quality or global profile.
A broader warning about the direction of the league
Cristiano Ronaldo also addressed the behavior surrounding the match more directly, speaking about the impact of such incidents on the image of the Saudi Professional League, a competition in which he was actively involved to help shape and elevate the league, with the league becoming one of the most recognizable figures in football in the hope of driving its growth and global standing. He said, “I think this is not in the league’s interest. Everyone is complaining, everyone is doing it more than they should. This is football, this is not war.” “I will have time to talk at the end of the season because I see a lot of bad things. Many players complain, they do it in posts on Instagram and Facebook, they talk about the referee, they talk about the league, they talk about the project… This is not the goal of the league. We have to be an example, not only here but also for Europe, because we want to compete with them to be one of the best leagues in the world.
We have to stop, because this is not football for me.
“
The comments reflect his role off the pitch, as one of the central figures in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to raise the standard of the domestic league and place it alongside the best European competitions.
The result, the rivalry and what follows
Al-Nasr’s victory strengthened its grip on the title race and continued its run that brought it within striking distance of the championship. But the match will be remembered for what followed as well as for the result itself, a series that began with a goal, escalated through confrontations and movements, and ended with Ronaldo giving the final word.