In a dramatic and heart-wrenching finale, Cristiano Ronaldo was reduced to tears after his Al-Nassr side lost the King’s Cup final to fierce rivals Al-Hilal on Friday night.
The match, which featured three red cards and a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, ended with Al-Hilal claiming victory 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time in Jeddah.
A Night of High Drama
The highly anticipated final began with fireworks as former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring for Al-Hilal in the seventh minute.
Al-Nassr faced an uphill battle after their goalkeeper, David Ospina, was sent off in the 56th minute, reducing them to ten men.
However, the game took another twist with red cards for Al-Hilal’s Ali Al-Bulayhi and Kalidou Koulibaly, leveling the playing field once more.
In a tense and hard-fought match, Ayman Yahya scored a late equalizer for Al-Nassr, sending the game into extra time.
Despite the best efforts of both teams, neither could break the deadlock, leading to a decisive penalty shootout.
The Agony of Defeat
The shootout saw former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves miss the first penalty for Al-Hilal, followed by a miss from former Manchester United defender Alex Telles for Al-Nassr.
The subsequent penalties were converted by both sides, including a successful attempt by Ronaldo.
The tension peaked when Al-Nassr’s final spot-kick was saved by Al-Hilal’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, sealing a domestic double for the Saudi Pro League champions.
The sight of Ronaldo collapsing to his knees in despair captured the emotional weight of the loss. The 39-year-old was consoled by teammates as he made his way to the bench, where he sat in tears.
Ronaldo’s Stellar Performance Amidst Heartbreak
Despite the defeat, Ronaldo’s individual achievements this season have been nothing short of remarkable. He set a new Saudi Pro League scoring record with 35 goals and has scored 58 goals in 64 games since joining Al-Nassr in January 2023 on a free transfer from Manchester United.
However, the King’s Cup final loss means Ronaldo finishes the season without a major trophy, adding to the frustration and heartbreak of the evening.
Hard to see Cristiano Ronaldo like this 💔pic.twitter.com/qtVmotQTOg
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) May 31, 2024
A Glimmer of Silverware
Ronaldo’s only piece of silverware in Saudi Arabia remains the Arab Club Champions Cup win from the previous year.
The disappointment of the King’s Cup final loss will undoubtedly linger, but Ronaldo’s prolific goal-scoring form continues to underline his enduring quality and determination on the pitch.
