Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane will have to wait a little longer to win the Saudi Pro League alongside Cristiano Ronaldo after an awful error proved costly against Al Hilal
22:23, 12 May 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane of Al-Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane of Al-Nassr.(Image: Fayez NURELDINE / AFP via Getty Images)
Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo have been made to wait to be confirmed as champions of the Saudi Pro League after a calamitous error from Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento Krepski.
Al Nassr would have been crowned champions today with a win and led 1-0 thanks to a Mohamed Simakan goal. But in the eighth minute of added time, Bento flapped at a long throw and scored an own-goal.
As a result of that goal, Al Nassr is on 83 points. It has played one game more than Al Hilal, who have 78 points. Mane and Ronaldo's team play Damac FC in their final game this season, where a win would guarantee the title. A point may be enough depending on goal difference.
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Al Nassr has not been short of controversy in recent games. Last week, Ronaldo found himself at the center of a post-match flashpoint following a 2-0 victory over Al Ahli.
Ronaldo and the former Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman scored in that game, helping to secure the club's 16th consecutive league triumph and its 20th successive victory across all competitions.
Yet, what should have been a moment of celebration before a packed home crowd rapidly descended into disorder.
Merih Demiral was seen squaring up to Ronaldo moments after the final whistle had been blown, with players and staff from both sides stepping in to intervene and restrain him.
Sadio Mane now plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Sadio Mane now plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.(Image: Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
The defender then made a direct approach towards Coman, with the Frenchman seen gesturing toward him before moving away.
Nawaf Boushal was exchanged heated words and gestures with Ivan Toney before the Englishman distanced himself from the confrontation.
Demiral was subsequently seen retrieving one of his two Asian Champions League medals, draping it around his neck and brandishing it toward the Al Nassr supporters, in what appeared to be a deliberate act of provocation.
"I think this is not good for the league," Demiral said later, regarding complaints about refereeing decisions in the Saudi Pro League.
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"Everyone complains, everyone does it more than they should do. This is football, this is not a war. We know we have to fight, everyone wants to win, but it's not allowed, everything. It's not allowed, everything.
"I'm going to have time to speak at the end of the season because I see many, many, many bad things. Many players complain, doing posts on Instagram and Facebook.
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"Speak about the referees, speak about the league, speak about the project. I think this is not good. This is not the goal of the league.
"We should give examples, not only here, but also for Europe. We want to compete with them to be one of the best leagues in the world. But like that, I think we should analyze. Stop that, speak with the SPL because, for me, this is not football."