In a match that saw Al-Nassr suffer a 2-0 defeat against Al-Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup on Thursday, February 8th, Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly displayed visible frustration. The legendary striker, who played the entirety of the 90 minutes despite grappling with an injury, found himself unable to steer his team away from defeat. Adding salt to the wound, Ronaldo received a yellow card during the game.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Aldawsari were the architects of Al-Hilal’s victory, securing two crucial goals in the first half. The loss evidently left Ronaldo disheartened, with reports emerging that he raised a complaint to Saudi Minister Turki Alalshikh following the match.
Ronaldo’s emotions were palpable as he grappled with the disappointment of the defeat, further compounded by his personal efforts on the field. Despite his best endeavors, Al-Nassr couldn’t overcome the formidable challenge posed by Al-Hilal, leaving Ronaldo and his teammates to ponder their next steps in the competition.
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The second loss to Al-Hilal this season for Al-Nassr served as a bitter pill for Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad, who couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities on the field. The disappointment extended beyond the pitch, with Al-Nassr seemingly struggling to rally support in the stands. The overwhelming majority of spectators at the stadium were seen cheering for Al-Hilal, creating an atmosphere that favored the home team.
This evident lack of fan support appeared to dampen Al-Nassr’s morale and hinder their performance, with Al-Hilal enjoying a clear advantage. Following the match, a visibly frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo engaged in conversation with Saudi Minister Turki Alalshikh while receiving his silver medal.
Reports from Essentially Sports suggest that the renowned Portuguese player expressed his frustration, pointing out the glaring absence of Al-Nassr supporters in the stands. Ronaldo’s query to the Saudi Arabian minister encapsulated the disappointment felt by the team in light of the challenging circumstances they faced both on and off the pitch.
Where is AI-Nassr?
It is uncertain if Alalshikh provided an answer to Ronaldo’s complaints, but the 39-year-old forward will have to make do with second place in the Riyadh Season Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo Subjected to Messi Chants Amid Riyadh Friendly Encounter
In a friendly match against Al-Hilal in Riyadh, Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo found himself on the receiving end of taunts from rival fans, who resorted to chanting the name of his long-time adversary, Lionel Messi.
The intriguing twist lies in Al-Hilal’s prior pursuit of Messi, who ultimately opted to join Inter Miami in the MLS. Despite this, Al-Hilal supporters unabashedly teased the legendary Portuguese forward with Messi’s name. Rather than being deterred, Ronaldo appeared to embrace the banter, encouraging the chants in response.
This isn’t the first instance of Al-Hilal fans employing Messi-related taunts against Ronaldo. Similar provocations occurred during their encounter in April 2023, a match that saw Al-Hilal emerge victorious with a 2-0 scoreline.
Currently, Al-Hilal holds the top spot in the Saudi Pro League standings, amassing an impressive 53 points from 19 matches. Meanwhile, Ronaldo leads the league’s scoring charts with an impressive tally of 20 goals.
As the season progresses, Al-Nassr aims to narrow the seven-point gap that separates them from Al-Hilal, who have maintained an undefeated record thus far. With the stakes high, the competition promises to intensify as both teams vie for supremacy in the league.
