Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to come to terms with Al-Nassr crashing out of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday night.
Ronaldo, 40, has enjoyed another impressive season in Saudi Arabia, netting 33 goals in 37 games.
However, with Al-Nassr languishing in third place in the Saudi Pro League and out of the King’s Cup, their final realistic chance of silverware came in the continental competition.
They came up against Japanese side Kawasaki in the semi-finals last night and fielded a team littered with talent including Ronaldo, Jhon Duran, Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic and Aymeric Laporte.
But, despite mustering 21 shots and 74 per cent of possession, they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat.
Their exit from the competition means Ronaldo has only picked up one trophy since arriving in the Middle East in December 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr crashed out of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday night
Ronaldo is likely to end the season trophyless after Al-Nassr’s loss to Japanese side Kawasaki
Ronaldo has only picked up one trophy since arriving in the Middle East in December 2022
Ronaldo missed a huge chance in the final seconds of the clash as he failed to connect with his effort under pressure after rounding the Kawasaki keeper.
And, following their defeat, the 40-year-old was disconsolate in the centre circle.
Ronaldo, who was on his own, repeatedly shrugged and even seemed to be arguing with himself.
The Portuguese superstar then gestured with his hands and appeared to be mumbling something.
After a brief period, Ronald put his hands on his hips and looked up to the sky until he wandered off.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo attempted to stay upbeat after the game as he posted a message on social media.
‘Sometimes the dream has to wait,’ he said. ‘I’m proud of this team and everything we gave on the pitch.
‘Thank you to all the fans who believed in us and stood by us every step of the way. Your support means the world.’
At full-time, Ronaldo looked devastated and he appeared to be arguing with himself
Ronaldo also seemed to shrug repeatedly as he prepares to end another season trophyless
Kawasaki will next face Al-Ahli, another Saudi side boasting a squad packed with high-profile foreign internationals, in the final on Saturday with both clubs looking to win their maiden continental crown.
The Japanese side, who had needed extra time to defeat Qatar’s Al-Sadd in the quarter-finals on Sunday, made an encouraging start to the Al-Nassr clash, as Marcinho outmuscled Brozovic to win possession 35 yards from goal before shooting wide.
Four minutes later Shigetoshi Hasebe’s outfit had taken an unexpected lead.
Ozeki’s pass to the left found Marcinho and, after the forward’s centre was headed towards the edge of the area by defender Mohamed Simakan, the unmarked Ito lashed a first-time volley into the top corner to stun the Saudi fans.
Al-Nassr struggled to find their rhythm in the opening stages, a Jhon Duran shot that flew high and wide after he was fed by Ronaldo in the 18th minute was a rare sight of goal for Stefano Pioli’s side.
That changed when Mane levelled the scores, the former Liverpool man benefitting from a slight deflection off the shoulder of Yuichi Maruyama that took his shot past Kawasaki goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi.
Ronaldo then rattled the frame of the goal with a header moments after sending an overhead effort wide of the target as Al-Nassr started to take control of proceedings.
But with four minutes left in the half Kawasaki reclaimed the lead through the doggedness of Ito, whose determined running unsettled the Al-Nassr defence. While Bento saved the winger’s close-range shot, Ozeki calmly converted the rebound.
Their decisive third came 14 minutes from time after Erison drove along the Al-Nassr byline to set up fellow substitute Ienaga to strike.
Yahya thumped home Al-Nassr’s second in the 87th minute before Yamaguchi twice denied an increasingly desperate Ronaldo in injury time as Kawasaki claimed a famous win.
