Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr were left stunned in the dying seconds of a high-stakes Saudi Pro League clash, as a bizarre own goal from their own goalkeeper denied them a title-clinching victory. The Riyadh derby against fierce rivals Al Hilal was seconds away from ending 1-0 in Al-Nassr's favor when Brazilian goalkeeper Bento mishandled an overhead save, sending the ball into his own net during injury time.

The result keeps the title race alive, with Al-Nassr sitting atop the league table at 83 points from 33 matches, while Al Hilal trail in second with 78 points from 32 games. For the 41-year-old Ronaldo, who joined the club in January 2023 after a record-breaking move from Manchester United, this was another agonizing near-miss in his quest for a first domestic title in Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese captain was visibly frustrated on the bench as the equalizer shattered the hopes of a home crowd that had been given free team shirts before kickoff, turning the stands into a sea of yellow in anticipation of celebration.

Al-Nassr's last league title came in 2019, while Al Hilal claimed the crown in 2024. The stakes couldn't be higher: a win would have sealed Al-Nassr's 11th league championship and Ronaldo's first since arriving in the Middle East. Despite the setback, the team remains in control of their destiny. Barring a shock result against 15th-place Damac in their final league game on May 21, Al-Nassr are heavy favorites to lift the trophy.

"The dream is close," Ronaldo wrote in a post-match message to his 770 million-plus followers on social media. "Heads up, we have one more step to take! Thank you all for the amazing support tonight!" With just one game left, the stage is set for a dramatic finale—one that could finally deliver the title Ronaldo and Al-Nassr have been chasing.