I work every day to be as good as possible.
In the deserts of Saudi Arabia, two Portuguese figures have written a chapter worth noting in the longer story of football and reinvention. João Félix, once a prodigy burdened by expectation, found in Riyadh the conditions to become the player many had always believed he could be — and was recognized for it. Jorge Jesus, a restless architect of titles across continents, fulfilled a promise to a friend and now turns his gaze toward unfinished business, reminding us that ambition does not retire on schedule.
- João Félix silenced years of doubt with the finest statistical season of his career — 20 goals and 13 assists in 33 league matches, numbers that finally matched the hype that had followed him since Benfica.
- Al Nassr's championship ended a seven-year drought, and the weight of that absence made the title feel like more than a trophy — it was a restoration.
- Jorge Jesus honored a personal promise to Cristiano Ronaldo, delivering the league title before departing, turning a coaching tenure into something closer to a kept word.
- Even as the awards were distributed, Jesus was already mentally elsewhere — Fenerbahçe, a club where he won everything except the league, pulling at him like unresolved business.
- Both men now face the question that follows every peak: what comes next, and whether the hunger that drove them here can find a worthy new home.
João Félix was named the Saudi Pro League's player of the year after a campaign that finally delivered on the promise that had surrounded him since his earliest days in football. In 33 league matches, he scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists — the best numbers of his career, eclipsing even the season that had made him a sensation at Benfica. Across all competitions, he reached 26 goals and 18 assists in 47 appearances.
Felix had arrived in Saudi Arabia carrying doubts — his own and others'. He addressed them plainly after Al Nassr's decisive victory, describing a rare alignment of environment, teammates, and role that allowed him to commit fully and flourish. When asked before the ceremony whether he might win the award, he was measured: with Al Nassr as champions, the recognition would likely fall to either him or Cristiano Ronaldo. The voters chose Félix.
Jorge Jesus was named coach of the year for guiding Al Nassr to 28 wins in 34 matches, ending a championship absence that had stretched back to 2018-19. The title carried the texture of a fulfilled obligation — Jesus had made a promise to Ronaldo at the season's outset, and he kept it.
With the trophy secured, Jesus confirmed his departure from Saudi Arabia. His managerial journey has taken him across Portugal, Brazil, Turkey, and the Gulf, but one thread remains unresolved: Fenerbahçe, where he won trophies but never the league. 'Maybe I have a story to finish there,' he said. The destination is uncertain, but the drive is not. 'This is my life,' he reflected. 'My passion continues.'
João Félix stood at the center of Al Nassr's championship season, and when the Saudi Pro League handed out its awards, his name was first. The Portuguese forward was named the league's player of the year after a campaign that redefined what he could do on a football pitch. In 33 league matches, he scored 20 goals and created 13 assists—numbers that, when combined with his performances in cup competitions, climbed to 26 goals and 18 assists across 47 games. These were the best numbers of his career, surpassing even the season that had made him a sensation at Benfica.
Felix had arrived in Saudi Arabia with questions hanging over the move. He addressed them directly after Al Nassr's victory over Damac, speaking with the clarity of someone who had made peace with his choice. "There were doubts," he said, "but I work every day to be as good as possible." He described finding an environment that suited him—the style of play, his position on the pitch, the quality of his teammates. "It turned out to be a fantastic season, which ended in the best way possible," he reflected. When he commits to something, he explained, he commits fully. This time, everything had aligned.
Before the awards were announced, Félix had been asked whether he might win player of the year. His answer was measured: many players had performed well, but with Al Nassr as champions, the award seemed destined for either him or Cristiano Ronaldo. The league's voters chose Félix, recognizing not just his output but the consistency that had carried his team to the title.
Jorge Jesus, the man who had orchestrated Al Nassr's rise, was named coach of the year. The achievement carried particular weight because it ended a seven-year drought. Al Nassr had not won the Saudi championship since 2018-19, when Rui Vitória had been in charge. Under Jesus, the club finished with 28 victories, two draws, and four defeats across 34 matches—a dominant campaign that left little room for doubt.
Yet even as the accolades arrived, Jesus was already looking beyond Saudi Arabia. He had made a promise to Ronaldo at the start of the season: help him become champion, then move on. That moment had come. In an interview after the title was secured, Jesus reflected on his managerial journey—championships in Portugal, Brazil, Turkey with Fenerbahçe and Al Hilal. There was one unfinished business: Fenerbahçe, where he had never won the league. "Maybe I have a story to finish there," he said. "It's one of the possibilities." He was clear about one thing: his time in Saudi Arabia was over. Where he would go next remained uncertain, but the hunger remained. "This is my life," he said. "I still have great intellectual and physical capacity. It's a challenge, and my passion continues."
Notable Quotes
There were doubts, but I work every day to be as good as possible. It turned out to be a fantastic season, which ended in the best way possible.— João Félix
I promised Cristiano I would help him become champion and then move on. Maybe I have a story to finish at Fenerbahçe. This is my life—I still have great intellectual and physical capacity.— Jorge Jesus
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
How did Félix actually perform compared to what people expected when he first arrived?
He exceeded everything. The doubts were real—people questioned whether he'd thrive in Saudi Arabia. But he scored 20 league goals and assisted 13 in just 33 matches. Over the whole season across all competitions, he hit 26 goals and 18 assists. Those are his best career numbers, better than his breakthrough at Benfica.
What made the difference for him there?
He said it himself—the environment suited him. The style of play, his position, the teammates around him. Jesus built a system where Félix could operate at his best. When everything clicks like that, a player can reach levels he didn't know were possible.
And Jesus—why was winning coach of the year significant for him?
Because Al Nassr hadn't won the league in seven years. Jesus came in and dominated: 28 wins in 34 matches. He delivered exactly what he promised. But he also made it clear he was leaving. He'd told Ronaldo at the start: help you win, then I'm gone.
Did he seem frustrated with Saudi Arabia?
Not frustrated. More like he'd completed his mission. He's won everywhere—Portugal, Brazil, Turkey twice. Saudi Arabia was a chapter, not his destination. He even hinted at unfinished business at Fenerbahçe, the one place where he hasn't won the league.
So this was always temporary for Jesus?
Completely. He's a man driven by challenges and new projects. Once he'd achieved the goal—the championship—staying would have been redundant. His passion is for the pursuit, not the comfort of success.