Portugal International Cristiano Ronaldo was left disappointed as Al Nassr’s dream of lifting the Saudi Pro League title was shattered on Saturday.
Al-Nassr played out a 1-1 draw with Al Ettifaq and that handed the opportunity to Al Ittihad to win their 9th Pro league title after they comprehensively dispatched Al Feiha by 3-0.
There is one game remaining in the Saudi Pro League but Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr can’t catch up with Al Ittihad.
The Pro League winner’s are now 5 points better than the Knights of Najd with only 3 points still available for Al Nassr to grab.
Cristiano Ronaldo remonstrated to referee Abdullah Al-Harbi during the game
A furious Cristiano Ronaldo protested forcefully with match officials as he couldn’t increase his goal tally of 14 goals in 16 Saudi Pro League games.
The 38-year-old is the fifth-top scorer in the Saudi Arabian top-flight league in spite of only joining the side in January.
However, Al Nassr were at the summit of the Pro League when he made that staggering move after his exit from Manchester United.
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr faced a grueling test right from the blast of the whistle against 10th placed Al Ettifaq.
Al Ettifaq went ahead on the 43rd minute courtesy of a goal from Youssouf Niakhate, 2 minutes before the end of regular time in the first 45 minutes.
The home side equalized via a left-footed bullet of a strike from outside the area which found it’s way into the top left corner.
Ronaldo was substituted six minutes before the end of regular time in the encounter.
He had an outstanding performance last Tuesday which gave Al Nassr a 3-2 victory over Al Shabab, as he scored a stunning curler from outside the box to decide matters in that encounter.
However, the Portuguese couldn’t replicate such an amazing showing at home to Al Ettifaq.
Cristiano Ronaldo has constantly stated how competitive the Saudi Pro League is and with time, how it could be one of the top-five leagues in the world.
His first season in Saudi Arabia would end without a trophy of any sought for Al Nassr as they were knocked out of the Saudi Super Cup in January and the King’s Cup in April.
Away from that, the man who is the highest goal scorer in football history has kept his grueling fitness, health and alertness regime despite clocking 38 in February 2023.
Unfortunately, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner hasn’t won any major title in the past three years.
His last domestic title triumph was in the 2019/20 season when Juventus last lifted the Scudetto.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s last trophy in football was the 2020/21 Coppa Italia title with Juventus.
Uncertainty still hangs over his future in the gulf country despite him penning a two-and-a-half-year deal with Al Nassr.
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