Cristiano Ronaldo headlines the five-man shortlist for the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League Player of the Season award, as Al Nassr pursues their first domestic title since his arrival. The nomination arrives during a dramatic championship climax, with Al Nassr holding a two-point lead over unbeaten Al Hilal heading into Thursday's final fixtures.
Ronaldo has delivered an outstanding campaign with 26 goals this season, recently becoming just the third player in the modern era to score 100 goals across the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese veteran has earned seven Man of the Match awards and remains the frontrunner for the prestigious individual honour. A victory over Damac on the final day would secure Al Nassr the championship and potentially deliver Ronaldo's first major trophy with the club since joining on January 1, 2023.
Elite Company Across Five Nominees
Ivan Toney has been exceptional with Al-Ahli, striking 32 goals in just 31 league matches alongside four hat-tricks and nine Man of the Match awards. Joao Felix, Ronaldo's teammate, has enjoyed a breakthrough debut season, recording three hat-tricks as a midfielder—a Saudi Pro League record—while leading the assist charts with 12. Julian Quinones of Al-Qadsiah has reached the 30-goal milestone to become his club's all-time top flight scorer with 50 career league goals, accumulating 13 Man of the Match awards in the process. Ruben Neves orchestrates Al Hilal's midfield brilliance, becoming the first player to exceed 2,000 passes while leading in dangerous passes.
The title race remains extraordinarily tight. Al Nassr sits top with 83 points, two clear of Al Hilal's unbeaten record. The champions-elect face Damac knowing only victory guarantees silverware, while Al Hilal will hope their rivals slip against a determined opponent. The pressure falls entirely on the table-toppers, as any dropped points could allow their challengers to claim the crown on the final day—a scenario that would reshape the narrative around this season's standout performers.
The Saudi Pro League Player of the Season award requires nominees to have appeared in at least 40 percent of their team's total matches, ensuring balanced representation across positions and nationalities. Thursday's conclusion will determine not only the league champion but also which individual player has made the most decisive impact during a fiercely competitive 2025-26 campaign.
