Cristiano Ronaldo Trophy -Less Season Looks Likely at Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo may be heading toward another trophy-less season after Al-Nassr collapsed to a 3–1 defeat against title rivals Al-Hilal. The loss came in a decisive Saudi Pro League clash that saw Ronaldo’s side surrender a first-half lead and finish the match with ten men.
The Portugal captain opened the scoring shortly before halftime, but a disastrous second half crushed Al-Nassr’s title hopes. With the defeat, Al-Nassr now sit seven points behind Al-Hilal after 14 matches, a worrying gap in the title race.
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Al-Nassr entered the match under pressure following a home loss to Al-Qadsiah. Despite the tension, Ronaldo’s side dominated the first half, registering six shots to Al-Hilal’s one. Kingsley Coman and Ronaldo both tested the defense before the 40-year-old striker struck in the 42nd minute.
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Ronaldo finished calmly into the top corner after a clever assist from Coman, marking his 16th goal of the season in all competitions. The goal briefly gave Al-Nassr control of the match.
Red Card Turns the Saudi Pro League Title Decider
The game shifted dramatically after halftime. Mohamed Simakan conceded a penalty after fouling Malcom, and Salem Al-Dawsari converted from the spot in the 57th minute. Moments later, chaos followed when goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi collided with Ruben Neves.
VAR upgraded Al Aqidi’s yellow card to a red for violent conduct. Reduced to ten men, Al-Nassr struggled to cope with Al-Hilal’s pressure for the final 30 minutes.
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Al-Hilal completed the turnaround through Mohamed Kanno, who scored from close range nine minutes from time. Deep into stoppage time, Neves sealed the win by converting another penalty after Ali Al Hassan fouled Al-Dawsari.
Neves delivered a commanding performance. He assisted the second goal, influenced the red card incident, and scored from the spot. His display proved decisive in a match that swung the title race firmly in Al-Hilal’s favor.
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Al-Nassr have now lost three consecutive matches, with their last win coming on December 27. Goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi emerged as the night’s biggest loser, as his dismissal compounded defensive errors and ended any realistic comeback.
For Cristiano Ronaldo, the result deepens frustration. He has yet to win major silverware since joining Al-Nassr three years ago. Unless momentum shifts quickly, this Saudi Pro League season may add another chapter to Ronaldo’s growing trophy drought.
