May 12, (THEWILL) – Record-breaking Al Hilal sealed their fourth Saudi Pro League title in five years on Saturday night, extending Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait for silverware in the big-spending competition. The Riyadh giants beat bottom-placed Al Hazm 4-1 to go an unbeatable 12 points clear of Ronaldo’s Al Nassr with three matches remaining, sealing a formidable campaign that saw them remain unbeaten in 31 league matches.
Despite losing Neymar Junior to injury in October, Al Hilal put together a run of 34 consecutive wins in all competitions – a record for a top-flight team. Jorge Jesus’s side have now secured bragging rights in the most anticipated Saudi season of all time after Ronaldo’s arrival in January 2023, triggered a flood of big-name arrivals.
Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez were among the veterans who came to Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, on eye-watering contracts. The ‘Big Four’ Saudi clubs – Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Benzema’s Al Ittihad and Mahrez’s Al Ahli – are all owned by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth vehicle that is driving Saudi’s economic diversification from oil.
Al Hilal’s triumph will frustrate Ronaldo again after the Portuguese superstar joined Al Nassr in a bid to add to his remarkable trophy haul. The two Riyadh giants will face off in the King’s Cup final on May 31st, giving Ronaldo another chance at silverware this season.
However, Al Hilal’s record-breaking campaign underlines their status as Saudi Arabia’s preeminent force. The champions remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple after also reaching the Saudi Super Cup final and semi-finals of the Asian Champions League.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
