Ronaldo’s Mixed Emotions After Al-Nassr’s Defeat

In a pivotal match that lasted 82 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo was called to the sidelines. He had initially broken the deadlock shortly before halftime, but Al-Nassr’s fortunes quickly declined thereafter. Despite a dominant performance in the first half, the game shifted dramatically after the break.

Salem Al Dawsari equalized for Al-Hilal with a penalty in the 57th minute, followed by Mohamed Kanno giving them the lead shortly before Nawaf Alaqidi was sent off. Ruben Neves sealed a 3-1 victory for Al-Hilal with a composed penalty in stoppage time.

At the time of his substitution, Al-Nassr was only trailing by one goal. The ever-optimistic 40-year-old Ronaldo was visibly displeased with the decision, reportedly mouthing the word “impossible” as he was replaced by midfielder Wesley.

He did exchange a brief handshake with head coach and fellow countryman Jorge Jesus upon leaving the pitch, but his expression conveyed his discontent with the timing of the change.

Following Neves’ goal, Ronaldo was seen smiling and making a ‘goodbye’ gesture with his left hand, perhaps acknowledging the inevitability of defeat in yet another title race. Al-Nassr, who had started the 2025-26 campaign with ten consecutive victories, now faced three defeats in their last four matches, trailing seven points behind leaders Al-Hilal.

Ronaldo’s time in the Middle East has seen limited tangible success, having secured only the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023. He remains committed to his contract in Riyadh until 2027, putting any retirement plans on hold for the foreseeable future.

The legendary forward has also increased his goal tally to 959, pursuing the milestone of 1,000 goals, and is anticipated to lead Portugal as captain in the 2026 World Cup. Moreover, he is reportedly advocating for Al-Nassr to enhance their squad during the winter transfer window, demonstrating his significant influence both on and off the field.