Al-Nassr

Beginnings and initial success (1955–1989)

Al-Nassr was established in 1955 by the Al-Ja'ba brothers. Early training sessions took place on an improvised pitch at Gashlat Al-Shortah, west of Riyadh. Prince Abdul Rahman bin Saud Al Saud subsequently took over as club president,serving across three stints over more than 39 years until his death. Under his leadership, the club rose from the second division to the top level, earning him recognition among supporters as the club's "Godfather."

Al-Nassr earned promotion to the first division in 1963. During the 1970s and 1980s, the club achieved sustained success,winning one Categorization League, three Saudi Premier League titles, five King's Cups, two Crown Prince's Cups, and one Federation Cup. This era was largely anchored by the "Saudi Golden Trio" of Majed Abdullah, Fahd Al-Bishi, and Mohaisen Al-Jam'an. Abdullah remains Al-Nassr's all-time leader in both appearances and goals scored.

Later domestic and international titles (1989–2000)

During the 1990s, Al-Nassr won two additional Saudi Premier League titles in 1993–94 and 1994–95, as well as the 1990 King's Cup and the 1997–98 Federation Cup.

Despite missing out on the Arab Club Champions Cup during this era, Al-Nassr secured several regional and continental honors. Led by Abdullah in the final years of his career, the team won two GCC Club Cups, the 1997–98 Asian Cup Winners' Cup, and the 1998 Asian Super Cup. Abdullah retired on 12 April 1998 following the Asian Cup Winners' Cup victory over South Korea's Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Riyadh. He ended his career at age 39 as the top scorer in Saudi League history with 189 goals and Al-Nassr's all-time top goalscorer with 260 goals.

Following their 1998 Asian Super Cup victory, Al-Nassr qualified to represent the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) at the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship held in Brazil in January 2000. Competing in a group alongside Corinthians, Real Madrid, and Raja Casablanca, Al-Nassr finished third in the group stage and sixth overall, becoming the first Asian club to compete in an official FIFA international club tournament. The club also received the tournament's FIFA Fair Play Award. Their participation in the competition earned them the nickname Al-Alami ("The Global One").

Restructuring and downturn (2001–2007)

Following the retirement of the Golden Trio, Al-Nassr integrated foreign players into the team, including Ivorian forward Fadel Keïta and Bolivian midfielder Julio César Baldivieso.

However, the team's domestic performance declined significantly in subsequent years. In the 2006–07 season, Al-Nassr finished ninth with 21 points, avoiding relegation on the final matchday. In response to the decline, prominent honorary members—including Majed Abdullah—intervened to initiate a long-term administrative and structural overhaul of the club.

Revival (2008–2015)

After a major overhaul of the playing staff, Al-Nassr defeated city rivals Al-Hilal to win the 2008 Federation Cup. In 2009 the club signed Mohammad Al-Sahlawi from Al-Qadsiah for a reported SR32 million, then a domestic record.

In his first season Al-Sahlawi scored 21 goals in 36 matches and was named Young Player of the Year by STC. Al-Nassr finished third in the 2009–10 league and qualified for the 2011 AFC Champions League.

2011 AFC Champions League

Al-Nassr finished second in their group. Results included a 2–2 draw with Pakhtakor (goal by loaned player Bader Al-Mutawa), a 2–1 win over Esteghlal (Hussein Abdulghani), a 1–0 defeat to Al-Sadd, a further draw with Al-Sadd, a 4–0 victory over Pakhtakor (goals by Saud Hamood, Al-Sahlawi and two by Al-Mutawa), and a 2–1 loss to Esteghlal. In the round of 16 the club was eliminated 4–1 by Zob Ahan. Al-Mutawa scored five goals in the competition before returning to Kuwait.

League and cup success

Under coach Francisco Maturana in 2011–12 Al-Nassr reached the Crown Prince Cup final but lost to Al-Hilal on penalties. In 2013–14, with José Daniel Carreño as coach, the team recorded a 22-match unbeaten run and won both the Saudi Pro League and the Crown Prince Cup against Al-Hilal, qualifying for the 2015 AFC Champions League.

Al-Nassr retained the league title in 2014–15. The side lost the King’s Cup final and exited the Crown Prince Cup in the semi-finals. In the 2015 AFC Champions League the team finished bottom of a group containing Bunyodkor, Al-Duhail and Persepolis. Al-Sahlawi scored 25 goals in 37 appearances that season. René Higuita was appointed coach but the club again failed to progress beyond the group stage of the 2016 AFC Champions League.

Hamdallah era (2016–2022)

Al-Nassr finished third in the 2016–17 league behind Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. The club were runners-up in both the Crown Prince Cup and the King’s Cup and did not qualify for the AFC Champions League in 2017 or 2018. Al-Sahlawi scored 10, 11 and 12 league goals across the three seasons from 2015–16 to 2017–18.

In March 2018 coach Gustavo Quinteros signed Sultan Al-Ghannam on a free transfer from Al-Faisaly. In the summer the club added Moroccan players Abderrazak Hamdallah and Nordin Amrabat. Hamdallah finished the 2018–19 season as league top scorer with 34 goals and helped Al-Nassr win the title. He also scored heavily in the King’s Cup, including multiple hat-tricks. At the end of the calendar year he was recognised by the IFFHS as the world’s leading goalscorer with 57 goals. Al-Sahlawi left for Al-Shabab.

Al-Nassr won the Saudi Super Cup in January 2020 (1–1 draw with Al-Taawoun, Hamdallah scoring) and again in January 2021 (3–0 against Al-Hilal). In the 2019 AFC Champions League the club reached the quarter-finals before losing to Al-Sadd; Hamdallah scored four goals. In the 2020 edition Al-Nassr reached the semi-finals, losing on penalties to Persepolis. Hamdallah shared the golden boot with seven goals.

Hamdallah’s contract was terminated in November 2020 although he remained available until the end of the season. In May and June 2021 the club signed Talisca (reported €9.5 million) and Vincent Aboubakar (reported €6 million). Both scored on debut in a 4–1 win over Damac in August 2021. Under coaches Miguel Ángel Russo and later Rudi Garcia the team finished without major trophies in 2021–22. Talisca scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 win at Al-Raed.

Ronaldo era (2023–present)

On 30 December 2022 Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo on a two-and-a-half-year contract later extended. The reported annual salary was among the highest ever paid to a footballer. Al-Nassr finished second in the 2022–23 Saudi Pro League.