Cristiano Ronaldo’s Heartbreak: Al Nassr’s Defeat in Saudi King’s Cup Final Stirs Global Sympathy

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Veteran Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo evoked worldwide sympathy and widespread emotions from his fans following a heartbreaking end to his season with Al Nassr, despite finishing as the top scorer in the Saudi League.

Global news agencies and social media platforms were flooded with images of Ronaldo shedding tears after the penalty shootout, which ended unfavorably for his team. The football icon was seen crying both on the field and on the bench.

Ronaldo’s quest for his first local title since joining Al Nassr remained unfulfilled after the team lost to Al Hilal on penalties (4-5) in the Saudi King’s Cup final. The match, held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, ended 1-1 after regular and extra time. Serbian Aleksandar Mitrović scored early for Al Hilal in the 7th minute, but Al Nassr equalized in the 88th minute through a header by Ayman Yahya, which bypassed Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. This victory handed Al Hilal a double, following their earlier triumph in the local league title.

The match was intensely competitive, marked by the dismissal of Al Nassr’s Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina in the 56th minute, and subsequent red cards for Al Hilal defenders Ali Al-Bulayhi in the 87th minute and Senegalese Khalidou Koulibaly in the 90th minute.

During the penalty shootout, Al Hilal’s Ruben Neves and Saud Abdulhamid missed their shots, while Al Nassr’s Alex Telles, Ali Al-Hassan, and Mishari Al-Nimr failed to convert their penalties. This resulted in a 5-4 victory for Al Hilal, marking their 11th King’s Cup title in history. Al Hilal retained the title they won last season, also on penalties, against Al Wehda.

Al Hilal’s victory over Al Nassr in this final marked their fifth triumph over their rivals across four competitions: twice in the league, winning the first leg and sharing points in the second, in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final with a 2-1 victory, and in the Riyadh Season Cup with a 2-0 win before the King’s Cup final.

Ronaldo’s emotional reaction has resonated deeply with fans worldwide, highlighting the intense passion and dedication he brings to the sport, even as he faces the challenges of securing titles with his current team.