Cristiano Ronaldo suffers Al Nassr heartbreak and fumes at himself after last-gasp shocker
Cristiano Ronaldo missed an open goal from six yards out as Al Nassr crashed out of the AFC Champions League. The Saudi Pro League outfit lost 3-2 against Japanese opponents Kawasaki Frontale in the one-legged semi-final clash on Wednesday night. Ronaldo was unable to inspire Al Nassr to reach the AFC Champions League finalGetty The veteran forward somehow missed this attempt from close range in the final seconds In what was an end-to-end five-goal thriller at the King Abdullah Sports City, Kawasaki went into half-time in the lead thanks to goals from Tatsuya ito and Yuto Ozeki either side of Sadio Mane‘s equaliser. Akihiro Ienaga then put his side two goals up, before Ayman Yahya halved the deficit in the 87th minute. The stage was set for a dramatic moment, and it fell to Ronaldo in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The 40-year-old latched onto a headed knock-on from Aymeric Laporte, where he then rounded goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi. But with the ball bouncing – and Ronaldo only needing to make solid contact with the ball in front of an open goal – he inexplicably fluffed his lines. He severely under hit his left-footed attempt – barely making contact with it – allowing Asahi Sasaki to get back and make a block. It proved to be the last chance of the match, with Nassr ultimately dumped out at the last-four stage. Footage then showed Ronaldo fuming at himself following the full-time whistle. Dejected, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was seen venting and throwing his arms up in disbelief as he tried to make sense of the result. Al Nassr’s loss is just their latest setback in what has been another hugely disappointing season. Ronaldo couldn’t make clear contact with the ball to send the game to extra-time He was spotted venting at himself after another chance of a trophy went begging Since Ronaldo joined the club on a free transfer nearly two-and-a-half-years ago, he has won just one trophy – the Arab Club Champions Cup in August 2023. In his first two seasons in the Gulf nation, Al Nassr finished second in Saudi’s top-flight. And this campaign, they sit in third spot with five matches to play – eight points behind leaders Al Ittihad. Ronaldo and his teammates also came up second best in the King’s Cup final in May 2024, where they lost on penalties to Al Hilal. Though on a personal level, Ronaldo has starred having banged in 97 goals in all competitions in just 108 matches. His 35 league goals last term won him the Saudi Golden Boot award. Cristiano Ronaldo club trophies Sporting Lisbon Portuguese Super Cup Manchester United Premier League x3 FA Cup League Cup x2 Champions League FIFA Club World Cup Community Shield Real Madrid LaLiga x2 Copa del Rey x2 Champions League x4 FIFA Club World Cup x3 Spanish Super Cup x2 UEFA Super Cup x2 Juventus Serie A x2 Coppa Italia Italian Super Cup x2 Al Nassr Arab Club Champions Cup But talkSPORT understands he will have another chance to claim Saudi Pro League glory as he closes in on a new deal. The Manchester United icon is set to put pen to paper on a new one-year contract, which included the option of a further 12 months.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed an open goal from six yards out as Al Nassr crashed out of the AFC Champions League.
The Saudi Pro League outfit lost 3-2 against Japanese opponents Kawasaki Frontale in the one-legged semi-final clash on Wednesday night.
In what was an end-to-end five-goal thriller at the King Abdullah Sports City, Kawasaki went into half-time in the lead thanks to goals from Tatsuya ito and Yuto Ozeki either side of Sadio Mane‘s equaliser.
Akihiro Ienaga then put his side two goals up, before Ayman Yahya halved the deficit in the 87th minute.
The stage was set for a dramatic moment, and it fell to Ronaldo in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
The 40-year-old latched onto a headed knock-on from Aymeric Laporte, where he then rounded goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi.
But with the ball bouncing – and Ronaldo only needing to make solid contact with the ball in front of an open goal – he inexplicably fluffed his lines.
He severely under hit his left-footed attempt – barely making contact with it – allowing Asahi Sasaki to get back and make a block.
It proved to be the last chance of the match, with Nassr ultimately dumped out at the last-four stage.
Footage then showed Ronaldo fuming at himself following the full-time whistle.
Dejected, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was seen venting and throwing his arms up in disbelief as he tried to make sense of the result.
Al Nassr’s loss is just their latest setback in what has been another hugely disappointing season.
Since Ronaldo joined the club on a free transfer nearly two-and-a-half-years ago, he has won just one trophy – the Arab Club Champions Cup in August 2023.
In his first two seasons in the Gulf nation, Al Nassr finished second in Saudi’s top-flight.
And this campaign, they sit in third spot with five matches to play – eight points behind leaders Al Ittihad.
Ronaldo and his teammates also came up second best in the King’s Cup final in May 2024, where they lost on penalties to Al Hilal.
Though on a personal level, Ronaldo has starred having banged in 97 goals in all competitions in just 108 matches.
His 35 league goals last term won him the Saudi Golden Boot award.
Cristiano Ronaldo club trophies
Sporting Lisbon
- Portuguese Super Cup
Manchester United
- Premier League x3
- FA Cup
- League Cup x2
- Champions League
- FIFA Club World Cup
- Community Shield
Real Madrid
- LaLiga x2
- Copa del Rey x2
- Champions League x4
- FIFA Club World Cup x3
- Spanish Super Cup x2
- UEFA Super Cup x2
Juventus
- Serie A x2
- Coppa Italia
- Italian Super Cup x2
Al Nassr
- Arab Club Champions Cup
But talkSPORT understands he will have another chance to claim Saudi Pro League glory as he closes in on a new deal.
The Manchester United icon is set to put pen to paper on a new one-year contract, which included the option of a further 12 months.
