Therefore, Ronaldo couldn’t go without a title. And after more than three years of waiting, Ronaldo finally lifted the trophy. Another championship added to Ronaldo’s already vast collection, but for Saudi Arabian football as a whole, it was a historic milestone for this historic contract.

When Ronaldo lifted the Saudi Pro League trophy with Al Nassr, it wasn’t just another title added to CR7’s already impressive collection. For Saudi Arabian football, it was a historic confirmation of the multi-billion dollar sporting project they had invested in Ronaldo for over three years.

It might seem inappropriate to compare it to Arsenal’s Premier League title. But the difference lies in the scale of the impact. Arsenal’s championship win simply ended a two-decade-long drought for a major club. Ronaldo, however, was different. He wasn’t just brought in to help Al Nassr win titles; he was brought to Saudi Arabia as a global icon for the entire football scene, and even for the country’s promotional strategy.

Therefore, Ronaldo absolutely has to win the championship.

That invisible pressure has weighed on the Portuguese superstar since he arrived in Riyadh at the end of 2022 after his tumultuous departure from Manchester United. Saudi Arabia isn’t paying a huge salary for a few viral videos or shirt sales. They need a symbol of victory. A true “serial winner.” And Ronaldo, with five Champions League titles and numerous trophies in England, Spain, and Italy, is the perfect choice.

However, paradoxically, that seemingly easy domestic cup turned out to be the most difficult title in the final stages of CR7’s career. In fact, Al Nassr consistently failed against the powerful Al Hilal. They lost in long-distance races, faltered in crucial matches, and even succumbed in the Asian arena to Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final this season.

Over three years, Ronaldo scored 129 goals and provided 24 assists for Al Nassr in 148 appearances across all competitions, reaching 100 goals in the Saudi Pro League alone, but he still lacked the most important thing: a national championship title. That’s why the trophy he just won is worth far more than its ordinary professional significance.

Saudi Arabia made Ronaldo the face of their football revolution. Following CR7, a host of stars such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Neymar successively joined the Saudi Pro League. Matches in the league are broadcast to over 180 countries. The “early final” between Al Nassr and Al Hilal on May 12th was considered the biggest match in the league’s history. Never before has Saudi Arabian football attracted such global attention.

But media attention is only half the story. To turn the Saudi Pro League into a truly worthwhile sporting product, they need the symbolic value of victory. A multi-billion dollar project cannot remain forever as a “league that buys stars but lacks top-level sporting achievement.”

Therefore, Ronaldo’s championship title signifies confirmation that this project has finally yielded the results it was supposed to. Notably, the title came at a time when Saudi Arabia was beginning to show signs of cooling down its investment strategy in sports.

Rumors of blockbuster transfers are no longer as prevalent as they were in 2023. Clubs are now prioritizing young players with high resale value instead of just chasing aging superstars. Several other national sports projects have also encountered problems or raised questions about their sustainability.

In that context, Ronaldo lifting the trophy was a huge image boost for the entire system. The trophy helped Al Nassr reaffirm its position after years of being overshadowed by Al Hilal. It gave the Saudi Pro League more legitimacy in terms of professional standards. And more importantly, it proved that the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo not only created a media buzz, but ultimately led to real sporting success.

At 41, Ronaldo may no longer be the best player in the world. But he remains the most powerful icon of modern football. And for Saudi Arabia, this trophy is perhaps worth more than any mere title. Because it marks a historic milestone for a historic contract.