Cristiano Ronaldo was moments away from the eighth league title of his career before a bizarre own goal kept Al-Hilal’s unbeaten season alive in the Saudi Pro League in a 1-1 draw.
Ronaldo, 41, has won league titles in England, Spain and Italy in his storied career and a win would have added the Saudi crown to his name at the fourth attempt.
But the crazy late goal means Al-Hilal trail Al-Nassr by five points with two games left.
Al-Nassr took the lead in the 37th minute when Mohamed Simakan drove the ball home after a corner.
Karim Benzema, a former team-mate of Ronaldo at Real Madrid, had a header disallowed for offside as Al-Hilal looked for a leveller.
Ronaldo was deeply unhappy at Al-Hilal’s capture of Karim Benzema in early February, accusing Al-Nassr owners the Saudi Public Investment Fund of a lack of interest and demonstrating his unhappiness by going AWOL for two games.
Ronaldo was replaced with seven minutes of normal time left and, echoing the scenes when Portugal won Euro 2016, watched intently from the touchline as the clock ticked down.
Al-Nassr looked home and dry but then, incredibly, they conceded in the 98th minute when goalkeeper Bento punched a long throw into his own net under pressure.
Jorge Jesus’ Al-Nassr side can clinch the title with a win over Damac on May 20, or if Al Hilal fail to beat Neom on May 16.
