Ronaldo Shows Frustration as Al-Nassr Fall to Al-Hilal in Title Clash
Cristiano Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure as Al-Nassr suffered a damaging 3–1 defeat to Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, reacting angrily to being substituted late in a match that swung decisively against his side.
The Portuguese forward had given Al-Nassr the perfect start, opening the scoring shortly before half-time in a high-stakes meeting between title contenders. However, what followed after the break proved costly, as Al-Hilal overturned the deficit and left Ronaldo watching from the sidelines during the closing stages.
Salem Al Dawsari began the comeback with a calmly taken penalty in the 57th minute before Mohamed Kanno fired Al-Hilal ahead soon after, a moment that came just before goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi was sent off. Ruben Neves then sealed the contest deep into stoppage time, converting from the spot to complete a decisive victory.
The result carried significant weight in the title race. Al-Nassr, who opened the 2025–26 campaign with ten straight wins, have now lost three of their last four league matches and sit seven points behind Al-Hilal at the summit. Ronaldo’s goal marked another milestone in his pursuit of 1,000 career goals, but it did little to ease the growing pressure.
The atmosphere inside the stadium reflected the magnitude of the occasion, with both sides starting at a high tempo. Al-Nassr controlled large spells of the first half, building play through midfield and frequently finding Ronaldo in dangerous areas as the visitors struggled to contain his movement.
Key moments after the interval changed the complexion of the match. The penalty awarded to Al-Hilal shifted momentum, and the red card shown to Alaqidi left Al-Nassr exposed as they attempted to protect a narrowing deficit with ten men.
Ronaldo’s goal had come from a well-timed attacking move, finished with authority to underline his continued influence. Al-Hilal’s goals, by contrast, came through composure from the spot and a decisive strike from Kanno as the numerical advantage began to tell.
The second half saw Al-Nassr retreat deeper, while Al-Hilal pressed with growing confidence. Chances arrived with increasing frequency, and tactical changes followed as Al-Nassr looked to regain control.
Late drama arrived when Ronaldo was withdrawn in the 82nd minute with his side trailing by a single goal. The forward appeared to mouth his disbelief as his number was shown, offering only a brief handshake to Jorge Jesus before heading to the bench. After Neves’ late penalty ended the contest, Ronaldo was seen making a farewell gesture toward the pitch, a moment that summed up a frustrating night.
The defeat leaves Al-Nassr facing an uphill battle in the title race, while Al-Hilal strengthened their grip at the top. For Ronaldo, the focus now shifts to recovery and response, as both club ambitions and personal milestones remain firmly in his sights.
Cristiano Ronaldo was visibly frustrated after being subbed off as Al-Hilal took the lead over Al-Nassr 👀 pic.twitter.com/slTA2zXTZr
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 12, 2026