RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has finally won a major trophy with Al-Nassr.
The 41-year-old Portugal star scored twice in a 4-1 win over Damac to help Al-Nassr clinch the Saudi Pro League title Thursday. It's the team's first major trophy since Ronaldo joined more than three years ago.
After the trophy presentations, Ronaldo posted a social media video of himself and the team with the notation: “It means so much to us.” It also included the words “Yalla Nassr,” which when translated from Arabic means “Come on, Al Nassr!” and is a popular cheer used by the team's fans.
Ronaldo lifted the trophy just two days after being named in Portugal’s roster for the World Cup, which would mark a record sixth appearance at the tournament.
The victory secured top spot for Al-Nassr, two points ahead of city rival Al-Hilal, which finished second despite completing the 34-game season undefeated.
Ronaldo struck his 27th and 28th league goals of the season in the second half after Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman scored on either side of halftime to put Al-Nassr in control.
Al-Nassr was leading 2-1 when Ronaldo restored his team's two-goal cushion just past the hour mark, curling a free kick from the left side through traffic and into the net.
He added his second eight minutes from time, finishing high from close range to seal the result as celebrations began. Visibly emotional, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was taken off to a standing ovation with three minutes remaining.
It is Al-Nassr’s 11th league title and first since 2019.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
A enlarged replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed in a shop window next to a mannequin resembling Portugal soccer team captain Cristiano Ronaldo as tourists walk by in downtown Lisbon, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, ahead of the 2026 soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Portugal's head coach Roberto Martinez calls the name of Cristiano Ronaldo when announcing the squad for the 2026 World Cup, in Oeiras, outside Lisbon, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
The former girlfriend of a member of the boy band Why Don't We has been charged with trying to hire a hitman on the dark web to kill him as part of a custody dispute over their now 7-year-old daughter, prosecutors said.
Gabriela Gonzalez, a 24-year-old with a large social media following, was charged Tuesday with one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder in the alleged plot to kill Jack Avery, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said. Gonzalez's father, Francisco Gonzalez, 59, and her then-boyfriend Kai Cordrey, 26, face the same charges.
“This is a case where the defendants are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a news release.
He said the charges were the result of a lengthy investigation that was initiated by the FBI and eventually turned over to the district attorney's office.
Avery thanked prosecutors and law enforcement for their support in an Instagram post Thursday and said his focus is on “being the best father I can be.”
Prosecutors say Gonzalez is accused of seeking the help of Cordrey to hire someone to kill Avery between 2020 and 2021. Then, in April 2021, her father allegedly sent Cordrey $10,000 as front money in the plot, prosecutors said. Two months later, prosecutors said, Cordrey allegedly requested and got $4,000 more from Francisco Gonzalez when the alleged hit man asked for more money.
In September 2021, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman spoke with Cordrey about the murder-for-hire plot. Cordrey is accused of telling the undercover officer that Avery was the target and discussed payment and proof of death, prosecutors said.
Gabriela Gonzalez, who has over 450,000 followers on Instagram, was being held in a Los Angeles-area detention facility on $2 million bond on Thursday. Her attorney, Elliot Zarabi, did not immediately return a call for comment.
Francisco Gonzalez was arrested in Florida and is awaiting extradition. He was being held in a jail in Florida in Seminole County on Thursday. It was unclear if he had an attorney to speak on his behalf on the charges.
Los Angeles County jail records show that Cordrey was arrested Thursday. His bail was set at $2 million, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney's office. Jail records did not show an attorney for him.
If convicted, all three defendants face up to life in prison.
The boy band Why Don't We released their debut album in 2018, which included the song “8 Letters,” and a sophomore album three years later. They have since disbanded, and Avery released the single “XOXOX” on his own this year.
FILE - Jack Avery, of the band Why Don't We, poses, Dec. 16, 2019, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Jack Avery of Why Don't We performs during 103.5 KISS FM's Jingle Ball at the Allstate Arena on Dec. 18, 2019, in Rosemont, Ill. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)
