Al Nassr are building genuine momentum at the start of the 2026-27 season, winning their opening two matches without captain Cristiano Ronaldo and sending a clear message that new head coach Ange Postecoglou has the squad ready to defend the Saudi Pro League title.

The champion opened the league campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Al Fath, goals from Ângelo Gabriel, João Félix and Samu Costa putting Al Nassr top of the table on goal difference. Three days later, the team followed that up with a 4-1 victory over Al Diriyah in the King Cup round of 32, with Félix scoring twice and Mohamed Simakan and Abdullah Al-Hamdan adding further goals. Ronaldo watched both matches from the stands, yet his absence barely registered on the pitch.

The bigger storyline running alongside those results is Ronaldo himself. The Portuguese star hinted in recent comments that this will be his final professional season, framing the 2026-27 campaign as his farewell year. That backdrop adds weight to every match Al Nassr play, and the club appears to be preparing quietly for a future beyond their most iconic player. Reports also link Brazilian winger Ângelo Gabriel to Borussia Dortmund, a transfer development the club will need to monitor closely given his influential start to the season.

Postecoglou faces a swift test of his side's depth. Al Nassr travel to Al Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League on August 21, a fixture that will show whether the early form reflects genuine title credentials or simply a gentle opening schedule.