Cristiano Ronaldo continues to shine at Al Nassr, leading the Saudi Pro League scoring charts with 16 goals. However, his brilliance has not been enough to lift his club to silverware. Despite an influx of star signings, Al Nassr remains without an official title and now faces a significant setback in the league race.
Their latest disappointment came in a controversial 2-1 loss to Al Ettifaq. The match took a dramatic turn after Colombian forward Jhon Jader Duran received a contentious red card in the 93rd minute. Russian referee Kirill Levnikov deemed Duran’s minor contact with Abdulelah Al Malki’s head as aggression, leading to an immediate ejection. The decision ignited outrage, particularly from Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, visibly frustrated, confronted the referee and pleaded for a review. When his appeals were dismissed, the Portuguese superstar lost his composure, throwing the ball away in anger. The defeat leaves Al Nassr in third place, three points behind Qadisiya and a daunting eight points adrift of league leaders Al Ittihad, led by Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté.
Al Nassr’s title hopes have been dented by inconsistent form, with the team now winless in two consecutive matches. Despite boasting defensive stalwarts like Aymeric Laporte and Marcelo Brozovic, the backline remains vulnerable. The absence of Simakan has disrupted their defensive structure, exposing cracks that coach Stefano Pioli has struggled to mend.
With time running out in the season, Al Nassr faces an uphill battle to reclaim momentum. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s frustration highlights the club’s ongoing struggles to translate individual brilliance into team success. The road ahead is challenging, and unless Al Nassr can find stability, their title aspirations may slip further out of reach.
