Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s greatest icons, found himself in a rare and painful position this season, finishing without a single trophy.
Ronaldo fell to the ground in despair at King Abdullah Sports City, where his teammates gathered to console him.
The legendary forward was left in tears after Al Nassr’s dramatic loss to rivals Al-Hilal in the king’s Cup final, a match that ended in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
Despite Ronaldo’s excellent individual performance throughout the season, Al Nassr couldn’t clinch any silverware.
The Saudi Cup final saw both teams locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, thanks to a last-minute equalizer from Ayman Yahya that pushed the game into extra time.
However,
neither team could find the net again, leading to the decisive penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Ronaldo converted his penalty, as did Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic. But the real hero was Al-Hilal’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, who made crucial saves to secure a 5-4 victory for his team.
This defeat was a significant blow for Ronaldo, who was visibly distraught, shedding tears on the field as the final whistle blew.
In front of 56,780 enthusiastic fans at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, the 2023-24 Roshn Saudi League champions and runners-up clashed in a thrilling encounter.
The match was an emotional journey, especially with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in attendance at the King Abdullah Sports City.
Al Hilal once again came out on top, receiving the coveted trophy from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Al-Hilal took an early lead just seven minutes in, with Mitrovic heading in a perfect cross from Malcom. Ronaldo’s attempt to change the game with a spectacular bicycle kick hit the post, but it wouldn’t have counted as he was offside.
Despite Al-Nassr’s spirited efforts, they finished second in the league, trailing 14 points behind Al-Hilal, who had already clinched the championship two weeks earlier, ending the league unbeaten.
This added salt to Ronaldo’s wounds, as his team could not overtake their local rivals.
However,
it’s not all gloom for Al-Nassr fans. CEO Guido Fienga has confirmed that Ronaldo will stay with the club next season, despite this heartbreaking end to the 2023-24 season.
The football superstar’s commitment to Al Nassr gives fans hope for a brighter, more victorious future.
As football fans looking ahead to next season, Ronaldo’s passion for the game remain as strong as ever.
His determination to bounce back and lead his team to glory next season is undiminished, promising more exciting football and possibly, a triumphant comeback.
