Portugal Legend Remains Determined Despite Title Challenge Setback in Saudi Pro League.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr’s title hopes suffered a blow as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday, January 8, 2026. The loss marked their second consecutive league defeat, seeing them slip to second place, four points behind runaway leaders Al-Hilal.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar, pulled one back with a composed penalty in the closing stages—his first goal of 2026—but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Nahitan Nández secured a shock win for the visitors at Al Awwal Park.

In a candid post-match interview with Arab News, Ronaldo acknowledged the growing strength of the league’s top teams. “It’s hard to compete with teams like Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, but we are still there, still pushing and fighting,” he said. “Football is like that; you have good moments and bad moments, but the most important thing is to be professional, to push hard, respect the club, respect your contract, and believe that things will change. For Al-Nassr, we’ll keep pushing to win more titles.”

The result leaves Al Nassr on 31 points from 13 matches, trailing Al-Hilal’s perfect run of 35 points. Al-Ittihad also remains in the mix, highlighting the intense competition in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season.

Despite the frustration, Ronaldo’s determination shines through as he eyes a strong response. With a crucial clash against Al-Hilal looming on January 12, Al Nassr will look to bounce back and close the gap in what promises to be a thrilling title race.

Follow sportblits.com for the latest Saudi Pro League updates, Cristiano Ronaldo news, and full coverage of Al Nassr’s campaign.