Ronaldo cried after Al Nassr’s defeat

After suffering a bitter defeat in the Arab Club Champions Cup final against rivals Al Hilal, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr was seen in tears as his team fell short in their quest for the title.

The loss to Al Hilal in the Arab Club Champions Cup final left Al Nassr empty-handed for the second consecutive season. Despite pushing hard until the final moments of the match, unfortunate circumstances at crucial times led to a heartbreaking defeat for Luis Castro’s squad against their long-standing rivals, settling for the runner-up position.

Immediately after the match concluded, Al Nassr’s star player Cristiano Ronaldo, sitting on the bench, visibly displayed his disappointment, unable to hold back tears witnessing his team’s painful loss, especially against opponents who had dealt them bitter defeats throughout the season.

Witnessing this emotional scene, fans of Al Nassr and Ronaldo flooded social media with comments expressing sympathy and support for the Portuguese superstar.

One person remarked: “Ronaldo once again feels let down by his teammates and defense.”

Another said: “People see tears, but I see passion and love for this beautiful sport.”

A third shared: “I admire his love for football, but perhaps it’s time for him to move on.”

And another fan suggested: “He should prepare well for the Euros. After all, he’s still the GOAT.”

On a personal note, Ronaldo, aged 39, had a decent performance during the match with 3 shots on target, 1 key pass leading to a goal, 4 successful duels out of 7, and an impressive 71% passing accuracy. However, these statistics weren’t enough to counter Al Hilal’s outstanding performance.

In the final that just ended, Al Hilal started stronger and took the lead through striker Mitrovic. Al Nassr then mounted a strong offensive, and their efforts paid off when Ayman Yahya scored the equalizer in the 88th minute. Despite playing with a numerical advantage shortly afterward, the yellow-clad team couldn’t capitalize during extra time, leading to a penalty shootout.

In the penalty shootout, Al Nassr faced the brilliance of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who made a decisive save, securing a 5-4 victory for Al Hilal and the Arab Club Champions Cup title.

This defeat means Ronaldo once again misses out on the opportunity to claim his first title with Al Nassr since joining the team in 2022, marking the third time this season that Al Nassr has finished as runners-up to the outstanding Al Hilal.