Cristiano Ronaldo faced another setback in his pursuit of trophies in Saudi Arabia as Al Nassr was eliminated from the King’s Cup of Champions with a 2-1 loss to Al Ittihad, led by his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.
The match started with Benzema scoring for Al Ittihad in the 15th minute, putting them in the lead. Ronaldo responded by assisting Angelo for the equalizer after half an hour. However, Al Nassr’s hopes were dashed when Houssem Aouar netted a goal just before halftime, securing Al Ittihad’s spot in the quarterfinals.
Since joining Saudi Arabia in early 2023, Ronaldo has struggled to claim major titles, with his only success being the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, which is not FIFA recognized. Al Nassr, despite Ronaldo’s contributions, has faced setbacks in official competitions, including multiple final losses and early exits in domestic and continental tournaments.
The team has fallen short in various tournaments, including the Saudi Pro League, King’s Cup, Saudi Super Cup, and AFC Champions League, since Ronaldo’s arrival. This contrasts with Ronaldo’s successful track record of winning league titles and Champions League trophies with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Despite these challenges, there is optimism as Al Nassr currently leads the Saudi Pro League standings with a perfect record of six wins in six matches. This positions Ronaldo and his team well for a potential league title victory, offering hope for future success.