Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to lead Al-Nassr in challenging Al-Hilal's dominance of the Saudi Pro League.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 but has yet to win a trophy with the club. This week, he shared on social media: "New season, same goal," as he prepares for another Saudi Pro League season. His main objective is to help Al-Nassr challenge the dominance of Riyadh rival Al-Hilal.

Al-Hilal secured the league title last season with 31 wins and three draws, finishing 14 points ahead of Al-Nassr. They also defeated Ronaldo's team 4-1 in the Saudi Super Cup final last weekend. The new season begins on Thursday.

Al-Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who joined from Chelsea last year, expressed concerns about the tough competition ahead. “Last season was challenging, but we succeeded. This year, all teams will be aiming to beat Al-Hilal,” Koulibaly told The Associated Press.

Last summer saw a flurry of high-profile signings in Saudi Arabia, with $957 million spent, according to Deloitte's Sports Business Group. This summer has been quieter, though the transfer window remains open until September 2.

Al-Hilal is eagerly awaiting the return of Neymar, who played only five games before a serious knee injury in October. Neymar resumed training last month and might return to play in September. Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored 28 league goals last season, will be a key player alongside Neymar. Al-Hilal also features Portuguese international Ruben Neves and Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Al-Nassr’s major signing this season is Brazilian goalkeeper Bento, replacing David Ospina. The team also includes Ronaldo, Senegalese forward Sadio Mane, Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, and Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte.

Challenges are expected from Jeddah's Al-Ahli, led by Riyad Mahrez, and Karim Benzema's Al-Ittihad, which has made the biggest summer signing so far by acquiring Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa for over $60 million.

All four top clubs, acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2023, are the most popular in the country. Officials hope a more competitive title race will boost average attendance, which was just over 8,000 per game last season.

Al-Hilal also aims for international success, representing Asia in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup starting June 15 in the United States. They reached the final in 2022 before losing to Real Madrid. Koulibaly anticipates that Neymar will be pivotal in their quest for trophies, stating, “We’ll ensure he’s in the best condition to help us win.”