The Saudi Pro League has unveiled another honor for Cristiano Ronaldo following his performances with Al Nassr. Al Nassr achieved their long-awaited goal of winning the Saudi Pro League title this season. It was also Cristiano Ronaldo‘s first trophy since joining the club in January 2023, earning him several individual accolades along the way. The latest was announced Thursday through the league’s official social media accounts. “After 34 match-weeks played, the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League Fantasy team of the season is here,” the post on X reads alongside an image featuring the 11 selected players. Cristiano Ronaldo was, unsurprisingly, included as one of the forwards in the lineup, alongside Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney and Al-Taawoun’s Roger Martinez. The Team of the Season also features one of CR7’s teammates during Al Nassr‘s title-winning campaign: Joao Felix. The other players recognized by the Saudi Pro League were Al-Ettifaq goalkeeper Marek Rodak, Al Qadsiah’s Mohammed Abu Al Shamat and Julian Quinones, Al Ittihad’s Danilo Pereira, Al Hilal’s Theo Hernandez and Ruben Neves, and Al-Shabab’s Yannick Carrasco. After 34 match-weeks played, the 2025/26 @SPLfantasy team of the season is here 👑 pic.twitter.com/S3xE0AZJbr— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) June 4, 2026 What is Saudi Pro League Fantasy? Saudi Pro League Fantasy is a virtual manager game that allows fans to build their ideal team from the league and compete against other users on a weekly basis. Each participant receives an initial budget to select players, with certain restrictions, including a maximum of three players from the same club. Based on the performances of those selected players in each match, users earn points. The combined total from the 11 selected players determines the winner of each Matchday and, ultimately, the overall season champion. Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the highest-scoring players of the season in Saudi Pro League Fantasy with 296 points, earning him a place in the Team of the Season. The top performer was Julian Quinones with 356 points, followed by Ivan Toney with 319 and Joao Felix with 311. Other honors received by Ronaldo this season The Saudi Pro League Fantasy Team of the Season selection adds to a lengthy list of honors Cristiano Ronaldo received during Al Nassr’s title-winning 2025-26 campaign. The Portuguese forward was also named among the five finalists for the Player of the Season award, which was voted on by team captains, coaches, media representatives and fans. However, Joao Felix claimed the top honor. Ronaldo, meanwhile, was voted Fans’ Player of the Season.
With reports linking Pep Guardiola as the next coach, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr announced the departure of Jorge Jesus. No sooner had Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated Al Nassr‘s 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title than the club was dealt a significant blow, with Jorge Jesus confirming his departure. While reports have surfaced linking Pep Guardiola as a potential successor, Al Nassr has now officially announced the end of Jesus‘s one-year tenure. Jesus’s arrival had been closely tied to Ronaldo’s own influence at the club following the forward’s contract renewal in June, with the Portuguese coach later revealing that Ronaldo’s personal involvement was a key reason he took the job. Despite the success they achieved together, Jesus’s contract ran its course and his decision to move on appears to have been made well in advance of the final announcement. The possibility of a one-year extension had been on the table, at least from Al Nassr’s perspective. Club president Abdullah Al-Majed acknowledged “ongoing attempts to convince Jorge Jesus to stay,” and a salary increase was reportedly offered as part of the renewal pitch, but no agreement was ultimately reached. Al Nassr‘s official account marked the occasion with a video tribute. “He arrived taking on the challenge… and he leaves us as a champion,” the club wrote, paying tribute to the SPL triumph that bookended his single season in charge. What a journey. What a chapter. 🏆💛Obrigado, Mister 🙏🏼#ChampionStateOfMind pic.twitter.com/kVKSnRXkRX— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 28, 2026 “Thank you, Jesus, for everything you have given to your club, Al Nassr… And you will always remain a lover of, and beloved by, the Nassrawi fans,” the message concluded. Jesus, who has been linked with clubs including Fenerbahce, Brazilian sides and even the Portugal national team, has since indicated he will spend time in Rio de Janeiro before deciding his next move. Across his 49 games in charge, Jesus compiled a record of 40 wins, two draws and seven defeats, averaging an impressive 2.49 points per game, establishing himself as one of the most successful coaches in the club’s history and breaking the 7-year trophy drought. Ronaldo was the driving force of that era, contributing 30 goals and five assists in 37 appearances to finish as the top scorer under the Portuguese manager. Is a Pep Guardiola arrival at Al Nassr feasible? As speculation about Jesus’s replacement gathered pace, Pep Guardiola quickly emerged as one of the headline names, having already confirmed his departure from Manchester City. Reports from Saudi newspaper Al-Youm went as far as claiming that Al Nassr had offered Guardiola an annual salary of $150 million, which would make him the highest-paid manager in the history of the sport. Speaking to Saudi media outlet Okaz, Guardiola‘s representative Josep Maria Orobitg confirmed that contact had been made but stopped well short of describing it as a serious offer: “There was a contact a month and a half ago, just a contact, without any commitment or written offer. There was also a contact with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation about 15 days ago, but there will be no further contacts for the moment.“ When pressed specifically on the reported salary figures, the representative was dismissive. “The amount mentioned is not true,” he said, while not denying that conversations had taken place. “At the moment, neither Al Nassr nor the Saudi Arabian Football Federation have great opportunities to sign Guardiola. Pep will not sign for any club or team right now. There are already a large number of interested clubs and teams, but all of this is being discussed for the future,” he added. Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City. With Ronaldo’s Al Nassr contract running through June 2027, only one season remains before a potential retirement announcement at age 42. Planning for the 2026-27 campaign is already underway, but landing Guardiola as the club’s next head coach appears to be a far more co
Latest reports suggest Ronaldo’s role inside the club could become even more influential moving forward. Cristiano Ronaldo finally delivered the moment Al-Nassr had been waiting for since his arrival in Saudi Arabia. After years of pressure, near misses, and growing scrutiny surrounding the project in Riyadh, the Portuguese superstar lifted the Saudi Pro League trophy following a dramatic title-winning campaign that restored the club to the top of Saudi soccer. The celebrations after the decisive 4-1 victory over Damac were emotional across the club, but behind the scenes, attention quickly shifted toward what comes next. With Jorge Jesus stepping away after fulfilling his mission and Al-Nassr entering a new phase, major decisions are expected to shape the project’s future. Jesus confirmed his departure immediately after securing the championship, ending a successful but relatively short spell in charge of the Riyadh side. The veteran Portuguese coach arrived with one clear objective: to help Ronaldo and Al-Nassr end their long wait for the league title. Jorge Jesus leaves after completing his mission Al-Nassr finished the campaign with 86 points, narrowly ahead of fierce rival Al-Hilal, to secure the club’s first Saudi league championship since 2019. The title also gave Ronaldo his first major domestic trophy in Saudi Arabia after several frustrating seasons. Following the final match, Jesus openly admitted that the mission had always been temporary. “I accepted this challenge only because I told Cristiano: ‘I will help you become champion, we will win the trophy, and then I will leave.’ That’s it. For me, the mission is complete,” the Portuguese coach said after the Damac victory. The statement immediately sparked speculation about the future direction of Al-Nassr. Although the coach announced his intention to leave, the club hierarchy reportedly moved quickly to try to change his mind. Club president Abdullah Al-Majed publicly confirmed that Al-Nassr wanted Jesus to remain in charge. “We will do everything possible to keep Jesus because he has made a significant difference,” Al-Majed explained in a televised interview. Ronaldo tried to convince Jesus to stay Reports from Saudi media later revealed that Ronaldo himself became heavily involved in efforts to keep the coach at the club. According to the Arabic electronic platform winwin, the Portuguese forward already knew before the final game that Jesus intended to leave once the title was secured. Ronaldo reportedly asked Jesus to stay for another season in order to preserve stability inside the project, but the coach refused despite receiving a massive renewal offer from Al-Nassr. The two figures are said to have held a private meeting before the final match against Damac. During that conversation, Jesus reportedly reminded Ronaldo of the promise he made when taking over the team. “Jesus held a meeting with Ronaldo before the last match against Damac, and told him that he must lead the team to victory in the match and win the title as he promised him, and then he will leave,” winwin reported. The same report added that Jesus informed Ronaldo he would never coach another Saudi club in the future and believed it was the correct moment to walk away after achieving success with Al-Nassr and previously leaving a mark with Al-Hilal as well. Ronaldo’s new role revealed The biggest revelation, however, arrived shortly afterward as the latest reports suggest Ronaldo’s role inside the club could become even more influential moving forward. According to 365Scores Arabic, Ronaldo will be involved in helping Al-Nassr choose the club’s next head coach. The report also claimed that the Portuguese superstar is considering several options, including a world-class Portuguese manager capable of continuing the project’s momentum. This move exemplifies how central the 41-year-old has become to the club’s sporting direction since arriving in Saudi Arabia. His influence already transformed Al-Nas
Jorge Jesus looks set to remain Cristiano Ronaldo’s head coach after Al Nassr and the Portuguese manager reportedly reached a verbal agreement on a contract extension. Cristiano Ronaldo has finally snapped his trophy drought in Saudi Arabia, capturing the Saudi Pro League title with Al Nassr following a resounding 4-1 victory over Damac on the season’s final matchday. Yet, just as the club achieved its ultimate domestic objective, Jorge Jesus shocked the fan base by announcing his departure—a situation that has now taken an unexpected U-turn. Heading into the season finale against Damac, the Portuguese tactician made it clear that his primary mission was helping Ronaldo claim silverware in the Gulf. After a painful defeat in the AFC Champions League Two final against Japan’s Gamba Osaka, Jesus and Ronaldo found immediate redemption by locked down the league championship. Following the trophy celebrations, the 71-year-old manager initially confirmed in an interview with Canal GOAT that the match against Damac would be his last at the helm of Al Nassr. However, global transfer news insider Ekrem Konur completely shifted the narrative, providing fresh hope to the Riyadh-based fans by revealing that Jesus is now likely to stay. The insider reported that Al Nassr and Jorge Jesus have reportedly reached a verbal agreement to extend the manager’s contract for an additional year. The breakthrough follows official comments from club president Abdullah Al-Majed, who pushed for Jesus to stay and had recently confirmed that the front office was actively launching ongoing attempts to convince Jesus to stay. Jorge Jesus kisses Cristiano Ronaldo on the cheek. (Getty Images) Portugal National Team on the horizon The sudden contract drama comes amid intense speculation linking Jorge Jesus to the Portugal National Team job. While Roberto Martinez currently serves as Portugal’s head coach, the Spanish manager is widely expected to step down following the conclusion of the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Addressing the rumors upon his arrival at a Portuguese airport, Jesus admitted to reporters that turning down his country’s top job would be a monumental challenge. “Who can say no to the national team? I have previously declined one of the best teams in the world, and I cannot say no to another,” Jesus stated, referencing his past decision to reject an official approach from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to manage the Seleção. Nevertheless, Jesus was quick to downplay any immediate distraction, emphasizing that Portugal needs a calm environment just days away from the tournament kicking off in North America. “I am not considering this possibility now. The World Cup is approaching, Portugal needs calm, the coach needs calm, and I do not want to get involved in such chaos,” he concluded.
Despite the coach's decision, Cristiano Ronaldo could witness a U-turn on Jorge Jesus' departure as Al Nassr president is pushing for the 71-year-old boss to stay next season. Cristiano Ronaldo’s post-championship celebrations suffered an immediate setback following Al Nassr‘s 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title triumph, as manager Jorge Jesus abruptly announced his departure from the club. However, the 41-year-old superstar may yet see a dramatic U-turn, with Al Nassr’s president publicly revealing that the front office is launching a massive push to retain the veteran tactician. Following Thursday’s title-clinching victory over Damac FC, Jorge Jesus shocked reporters by using his post-match press conference to announce he was stepping down, stating he had fulfilled the exact promise that led him to accept the vacancy in the first place. With his current deal expiring in June 2026, the manager remained tight-lipped regarding his next destination, noting only that he was headed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for a well-deserved vacation. Yet, the separation might not be a done deal just yet. In a statement compiled by Saudi outlet Al-Wyam, Al Nassr club president Abdullah Al-Majed made the board’s aggressive stance abundantly clear: “At the current moment, there are ongoing attempts to convince Jesus to stay, and we will convince him, God willing.“ Alongside high-profile arrivals like Iñigo Martinez, Joao Felix, and Kingsley Coman, Jorge Jesus masterminded one of the most dominant campaigns in Al Nassr history. The 71-year-old manager orchestrated the best start to a season in SPL history with 11 consecutive wins, while also shattering the club record with a 20-match win streak across all competitions (16 in league play, four in the AFC Champions League Two). Coach Jorge Jesus and Al Nassr players celebrate the win against Al Ittihad with the fans. Having already experienced immense success with arch-rivals Al Hilal, Jesus was personally targeted for the job by Ronaldo, eventually guiding the club to the finals of both the Saudi Super Cup and the Champions League Two. Over his 49-game tenure, he accumulated an outstanding 40-2-7 record, averaging a staggering 2.49 points per match. Al-Majed also established clear timelines and expectations for Al Nassr’s upcoming 2026-27 campaign. “Work on the next season will begin immediately after the Eid al-Adha holiday (in June), focusing on preparing the squad and securing upcoming transfers… the work ahead will be very substantial,” the club president concluded. Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly pressuring management to finalize renewal By declaring his mission accomplished at Al Nassr, Jorge Jesus immediately sparked rumors linking him to high-profile roles at Fenerbahce, a return to Brazilian club soccer, or potentially taking over the Portugal national team after the World Cup. With the manager’s future hanging in the balance, Ronaldo is reportedly eager to flex his immense institutional leverage to force a change of heart. According to 365 Scores Arabic, Ronaldo is heavily pressuring Al Nassr’s executive board to iron out the details and lock Jesus down to a one-year contract extension. The timing of the contract is critical; Ronaldo is currently tied to the club through June 2027, meaning Jesus would have the opportunity to manage the iconic forward through what could realistically be the final season of his legendary professional career. As it stands, Jesus holds all the leverage in negotiations and will likely demand significant backing from the hierarchy to reconsider his exit. Reports suggest the manager’s list of demands includes a substantial salary increase paired with a guarantee of six major summer signings, a clear effort to avoid the squad depth issues that plagued the club during the 2026 winter window, when a lack of transfer activity reportedly prompted a frustrated Ronaldo to go on a brief two-game strike.
Saudi Arabia unveiled a 30-player roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including six teammates of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr. The Saudi Pro League title in 2025-26 cemented Al Nassr as the strongest team in the country, which translated into a major presence from the club in Saudi Arabia’s preliminary squad. Six teammates of Cristiano Ronaldo now have a chance to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “Saudi Arabia national team head coach Georgios Donis has confirmed his 30-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the Saudi Pro League announced this Saturday in a statement published on its official website. Of those players, 28 compete in the domestic league, one plays in the second division, and only one plays abroad: Saud Abdulhamid, a defender for Lens in France. Al Nassr have the second-highest number of players called up to the national team, with six total selections. Only Al Hilal have more, with seven. The other club heavily represented in Saudi Arabia’s 30-man roster is Al Ahli, with five players. The teammates of Cristiano Ronaldo and recent Saudi Pro League champions selected to the squad are goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi, defenders Abdulelah Al Amri and Nawaf Boushal, midfielders Abdullah Al Khaibari and Ayman Yahya, and forward Abdullah Al Hamdan. 𝗨𝗦𝗔-𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 🇸🇦✈️The 30-man preliminary squad selected for Saudi Arabia's #FIFAWorldCup preparations 📋We're with you all the way 💯 pic.twitter.com/0PaBd7w67G— Saudi National Team (@SaudiNT_EN) May 23, 2026 Key dates for Saudi Arabia ahead of the World Cup This 30-player roster will eventually be reduced to 26, with FIFA’s final deadline set for June 1. Before that, however, the team will travel to the United States to continue preparations, beginning with a friendly against Ecuador on May 30 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey. The second friendly will take place six days later against Puerto Rico in Austin, Texas, while the team’s final tune-up match is scheduled for June 9 against Senegal in San Antonio. From there, Saudi Arabia will turn their attention to their World Cup opener against Uruguay on June 15. Spain and Cape Verde will be the other teams in Group H. Saudi Arabia coach reveals his plans During the press conference in which Saudi Arabia unveiled its 30-player preliminary roster, head coach Georgios Donis discussed his plans ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. “I want to see my team from the first game very organised, very disciplined, to show our ambition and then to see what happens,” Donis explained. However, he later urged caution and warned against expecting “miracles” like the victory over Argentina at Qatar 2022: “It is better to look at the forest, not the tree.”
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