Cristiano Ronaldo cut an emotional and devastated figure after Al-Nassr’s 1-0 loss by Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final on Saturday night – and refused to collect his runners-up medal.
The Portuguese icon, 41, is still waiting to celebrate his first major honour in Saudi Arabia since his staggeringly lucrative move to Al-Nassr in January 2023, having only lifted the Arab Club Champions Cup once shortly after his arrival.
Ronaldo, who enjoyed a hugely decorated career at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon prior to his move to the Middle East, was on course to claim multiple trophies this season before suffering a shock defeat against Gamba Osaka on Saturday.
Al-Nassr, who were hosting the showpiece on home soil, failed to recover after Deniz Hummet’s 29th-minute goal for the visitors, who went on to keep a clean sheet and lift the trophy.
As he grappled with emotion following the crushing defeat, Ronaldo left the pitch in devastation as Al-Nassr staff attempted to console him.
Ronaldo and his fellow superstar team-mate Sadio Mane missed a catalogue of chances as Al-Nassr tried to find a way back into the game before ultimately coming out empty handed.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr suffered a 1-0 defeat Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final – as the Portuguese icon missed out on another opportunity for silverware
Ronaldo did not turn up to collect his runners-up medal during the presentation of honours after the match, clearly still feeling the emotional impact of letting another trophy opportunity slip away.
The icon’s heartbreaking post-match moment came just days after his Al-Nassr team conceded a bizarre 98th-minute goal to title rivals Al-Hilal, who have kept their hopes of winning the Saudi Pro League alive heading into the final day.
Al-Nassr, who looked poised to lift their first Saudi Pro League title since Ronaldo’s arrival with just seconds to play, risk missing out on the honour if they lose against Damac on May 21, with Al-Hilal just two points behind in second place.
Ronaldo, who earns £488,000-per-day in Saudi Arabia, cut a deflated figure on the bench after Al-Hilal’s last-gasp equaliser on Tuesday, having been substituted with seven minutes to play hoping he had done enough to secure the title with Al-Nassr winning 1-0.
The Portugal international has enjoyed another superb season, although he is unlikely to take home the Golden Boot, with Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney (32 goals) and Al-Qadsiah star Julian Quinones (30 goals) having scored more than his 26 strikes.
