Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of leading Al-Nassr to a title victory were dashed, leaving him gutted and frustrated. Al-Nassr’s 1-1 draw against Al Ettifaq ultimately sealed the Saudi Pro League championship for Al-Ittihad, who secured a convincing 3-0 win over Al Feiha. Despite his best efforts, Ronaldo was unable to increase his goal tally of 14 in 16 league games, making him the fifth-highest scorer in the Saudi top flight.
When Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January, the team was at the top of the league standings after his unexpected departure from Manchester United, prompted by a contentious interview with Piers Morgan. However, their title aspirations took a hit on Saturday when Youssoufou Niakate scored for Al Ettifaq just before halftime. The results from Saturday’s matches left Al-Ittihad with an insurmountable five-point lead going into the final round of games on Wednesday.
Despite the disappointment, just three days earlier, Ronaldo had showcased his brilliance by scoring a magnificent winning goal in a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against third-placed Al-Shabab. The 38-year-old football legend has maintained his exceptional fitness and health regime since making the move to Saudi Arabia in the middle of the season.
However, it has been three years since Ronaldo last lifted a major club trophy. While he achieved great success in the past, winning the Champions League four times with Real Madrid and once with Manchester United, his last domestic league title came during Juventus’ Serie A triumph in 2019-2020. Despite the recent setback, Ronaldo’s determination and dedication to the game remain unwavering as he continues to strive for success in his new chapter outside of Europe.
