Cristiano Ronaldo experienced a poignant moment on Friday night as his team, Al-Nassr, suffered defeat at the hands of rivals Al-Hilal in the King’s Cup final held in Jeddah. The highly charged match, which culminated in a nail-biting penalty shootout concluding 5-4 in favor of Al-Hilal, visibly shook Ronaldo. The encounter, marked by three players being sent off, ended with a 1-1 stalemate after extra time, leading both teams to the decisive penalty shootout.

Despite Ronaldo successfully converting his penalty, Al-Nassr fell short of securing victory. The pivotal moment arrived when goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Al-Nassr’s final penalty, securing a domestic double for Al-Hilal. Ronaldo, who has been a dominant presence in the Saudi Pro League, notably setting a new scoring record this season with 35 goals, was deeply affected by the outcome.

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The Portuguese captain, having amassed an impressive 58 goals in 64 games since joining Al-Nassr in January 2023, concludes this season without claiming a single trophy. His sole accolade in Saudi Arabia remains last year’s Arab Club Champions Cup.

The match unfolded amidst gripping drama, initiated by Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic finding the net early in the seventh minute. The intensity of the game heightened as Al-Hilal’s goalkeeper David Ospina, alongside players Ali Al-Bulayhi and Kalidou Koulibaly, received red cards. In the midst of the turmoil, Al-Nassr’s Ayman Yahya delivered a late equalizer, propelling the match into extra time and ultimately the decisive shootout.

Ronaldo, renowned for his resilience and unwavering competitive spirit, received solace from teammates as he grappled with emotions on the sidelines.