Ronaldo on target again as Al-Nassr win to go 3rd in Saudi Pro League

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after the Al-Nassr v Al-Fateh match on January 26, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 26 January 2025
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Ronaldo on target again as Al-Nassr win to go 3rd in Saudi Pro League

  • Late strike lifts Portuguese star’s goal tally to 14 — and saves goalkeeper’s blushes

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo’s fine goalscoring form continued in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday as he helped Al-Nassr defeat Al-Fateh 3-1 to move back into third place. 

A late strike made it three goals in two games for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as he moved clear at the top of the goalscoring standings with 14 for the season so far.

The deadlock was only broken four minutes before the break when Marwane Saadane put into his own net from close range after Angelo drove a low ball across the face of goal. Angelo was the provider of the second just before the hour, swinging over a free-kick for French defender Mohamed Simakan to head home his first goal for Al-Nassr.

At 2-0 the game seemed done and dusted, but with 18 minutes remaining, Al-Fateh, in last place in the standings, reduced the arrears thanks to Mourad Batna, who pounced after goalkeeper Bento spent too long on the ball inside his own area and was caught in possession.

Ronaldo spared Bento’s blushes with three minutes of normal time remaining, just as the visitors were threatening to take a surprising point.

It was so simple. Sadio Mane broke free down the left, passed to the far post, and there was the Portuguese star to sweep home with the minimum of fuss.

Ronaldo had the ball in the back of the net once more deep into injury time, smashing home spectacularly from the right side of the area, only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.

Al-Nassr now have 35 points from 17 games, eight behind Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, who have a game in hand. 

Earlier in the day, Al-Ahli made it seven wins from the last eight in the league with a 5-0 thrashing of Al-Riyadh.

Two goals from England striker Ivan Toney and one each from Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, and Ziyad Al-Johani made the difference as the Jeddah club stay in fifth, three points behind Al-Nassr.


Al-Nassr sign Mohamed Simakan on 5-year deal

Updated 01 June 2025
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Al-Nassr sign Mohamed Simakan on 5-year deal

  • Frenchman made 39 appearances for club last season after joining on loan
  • Defender valued at $26.1m

RIYADH: Al-Nassr have completed the signing of French defender Mohamed Simakan on a five-year deal, according to Arriyadiyah.

The 25-year-old center back joined the Saudi Pro League side on loan from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig last summer. That deal included a mandatory purchase clause, which has now been activated following the conclusion of the 2024–25 season.

The report said the loan was structured purely for administrative and financial reasons and with all contractual conditions now fulfilled, Al-Nassr have formalized the transfer.

Simakan made 39 appearances during his debut season, 26 of them in the Saudi Pro League, 11 in the AFC Champions League Elite and two in the King Cup.

A consistent performer and a versatile presence in defense, he quickly established himself as a key figure in Al-Nassr’s back line. He contributed one goal and three assists.

His market value is currently estimated at €23 million ($26.1 million), according to Transfermarkt.


Benzema storms back to take acclaim as Aouar stars in Ittihad’s cup triumph

Updated 31 May 2025
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Benzema storms back to take acclaim as Aouar stars in Ittihad’s cup triumph

  • Praise for the 37-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner pours in from all corners after a brilliant national season for Saudi league and cup winners

DUBAI: Form is temporary, class is permanent.

After a difficult start to his Al-Ittihad career, Karim Benzema has stormed back to his best to crown a sensational season with a two goal-performance as the Yellows added the King Cup to their recent Saudi Pro League triumph.

Team-mate Houssem Aouar was nominated as the man of the match in the 3-1 win over Al-Qadsiah in Friday’s final at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

As the celebrations continued the day after the final, football accounts and fans — many from France and former club Real Madrid — across social media have been united in their praise for the former Ballon d’Or winner, who on Wednesday was named 2024-25 player of the season by the Saudi Pro League.

On X, @433, which has a following of 5.8 million, commented: “AL ITTIHAD WIN THE SAUDI DOUBLE! What a season for Karim Benzema: Saudi Pro League. King’s Cup. Player of the Year.”

Meanwhile @theMadridZone, with 1.4 million followers, posted a photo of Benzema with the King Cup and Saudi Pro league trophies following the presentation after Friday’s final.

Just three days earlier, the same account had posted: “Congratulations to Karim Benzema for winning the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad.  Champion wherever he goes.”

Al-Ittihad’s own English account on X had simply posted: “THE GOAT. Player of the Season @Benzema.”

The French star became the first player since Julio Tavares of Al-Faisaly to score twice in the final of Saudi Arabia’s premier cup competition with goals in the 34th minute and deep into stoppage time at the end of the match.

The first came from a clever chested effort from Steven Bergwijn’s cross from the right while the second was a simple tap-in from close inside the six-yard box to end Al-Qadsiah’s dreams of a late miracle.

Aouar scored Al-Ittihad’s second on 43 minutes while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replied with Qadsiah’s solitary effort six minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half with a penalty as the Jeddah giants claimed their tenth title in the competition.

At the final whistle, a celebrating Benzema still found time to console former Real Madrid colleague and current Qadsiah captain Nacho with a warm hug.

Benzema had joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 but his first season did not go to plan as the then reigning champions failed to retain the SPL title they had won for the first time in 14 years the previous campaign.

Injuries and lack of form, not to mention managerial changes at the club, led to frustration from supporters who questioned the wisdom of Benzene’s signing as Al-Hilal stormed another League title.

All that has been forgiven and forgotten as Benzema rolled back the years to score 21 SPL goals for Laurent Blanc’s team in 2024-25, behind in the top scorer’s chart to only Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo with 25 and Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney with 23. The King Cup double was the icing on the cake for the 37-year-old Ittihad captain.

While Benzema has rightly been lauded by his club’s supporters and others across the region for his display, Algeria’s Aouar has been named player of the match by football platform Sofascore, which awards players scores out of 10 for their performances. Aouar was given 8.3 for his own starring role against Al-Qadsia, which saw him nod-in from close range after Qadsia goalkeeper Koen Casteels had saved brilliantly from Benzema’s header.

Ittihad goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was second with a score of 8.0 while Benzema came third with 7.9.


Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief

Updated 30 May 2025
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Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief

  • Speculation over the 40-year-old Portuguese forward’s future intensified
  • Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in back-to-back Saudi Pro League seasons

RIYADH: Al-Nassr are negotiating with Cristiano Ronaldo over a contract extension but face competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d’Or winner, the Saudi side’s sporting director Fernando Hierro said on Thursday.

Speculation over the 40-year-old Portuguese forward’s future intensified after Al-Nassr’s season-ending match at Al-Fateh on Monday, with Ronaldo posting on social media: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.”

“Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr runs until June 30. We will work to renew his contract so he can continue with us, and there are many clubs interested in signing him,” Hierro told a news conference.

Despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify for the Club World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States.

FIFA has created a special transfer window for clubs to sign players for the event, and while Wydad Casablanca had been linked with a move for Ronaldo a source close to the Moroccan side said last week they were not in talks to sign him.

Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in back-to-back Saudi Pro League seasons and Hierro described him as a trailblazer for Saudi football.

“Ronaldo’s presence from the beginning is a national project,” Hierro said.

“Cristiano has opened up soccer in this country to the world. It’s phenomenal that he had the courage to come here, stay here, and open up the Saudi Arabian league to the world.”


Benzema named Saudi Pro League’s Player of the Season after Al-Ittihad title triumph

Updated 29 May 2025
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Benzema named Saudi Pro League’s Player of the Season after Al-Ittihad title triumph

  • Salem Al-Dawsari named Best Saudi Player, Cristiano Ronaldo retains the Golden Boot as competition’s top scorer

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema was declared the winner of 2024-2025 Saudi Pro League’s Player of the Season award after the season’s conclusion on Monday.

According to the league's official X account on Wednesday, the French forward claimed the award after scoring 21 goals and providing nine assists during the Jeddah club’s title-winning campaign.

The award for Best Saudi Player went to Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari who enjoyed the most productive season of his career, scoring 15 goals and making 15 assists as his team finished second in the league.

Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Boot award for the second consecutive season after topping the league’s scorers list with 25 goals.

Al-Ittihad’s French coach Laurent Blanc took the Best Coach award after leading his team to the league title with two rounds remaining.

The Young Player of the Year award went to Musab Al-Juwair, the 21-year-old Al-Shabab team midfielder, who impressed throughout the season with 15 goal contributions (five goals, 10 assists) in 31 matches. Al-Ettifaq’s Marek Rodak collected the Goalkeeper of the Season award after an exceptional season.

The winners of the Saudi Pro League awards are selected through a vote in which coaches and team captains each make up 40 percent, sports media professionals 15 percent, and fans five percent.


Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season

Updated 28 May 2025
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Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season

  • Al-Ahli fans came in second with 354,019 attendees
  • This year’s champions had their fans passing the half-a-million attendance mark

RIYADH: Al-Ittihad supporters have emerged as the most dedicated fans throughout the Roshn Saudi League 2024/2025 season with a total number of 594,326 attendees.

Al-Ahli fans came in second with 354,019 attendees, according to official data released on Wednesday via Saudi Pro League’s Arabic handle on X.

This year’s champions, Al-Ittihad, were the only club where fans passed the half-a-million attendance mark, out of a total number of 2.5 million supporters who attended the whole RSL.

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal secured third place with 302,028 attendees while Al-Nassr ranked fourth with a total of 277,821attendees.

In a notable rise, newly promoted Al-Qadsiah, returning from the Yelo League (First Division), claimed fifth spot with 168,331 fans.

Rounding out the list were Al-Fateh in sixth, followed by Al-Ettifaq, Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun, Damac, Al-Khaleej, Al-Raed, Al-Wehda, Al-Kholood, Al-Orobah, Al-Riyadh, Al-Okhdood and Al-Fayha.