The Portuguese star’s side were knocked out of the King’s Cup by Karim Benzema’s Al-Ittihad, marking yet another missed opportunity since Ronaldo joined the club in January 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia was intended to revitalise his career and add to his haul of silverware in a league that is still developing its international profile. Despite his prolific goal-scoring and individual brilliance, the five-time Ballon d’Or has yet to lift a trophy, with 13 potential honours slipping through his fingers.
The latest setback came in the King’s Cup, where Al-Nassr lost 2-1 to Al-Ittihad, even after gaining a numerical advantage from the 49th minute. It was Ronaldo’s fourth premature exit from this competition, extending the club’s ongoing wait for a major title.
Since his high-profile departure from Manchester United, Ronaldo has seen a string of opportunities vanish, including three league titles, four domestic cups, four Super Cups, and two Asian Champions League campaigns.
While his individual numbers remain impressive, the expected dominance of Al-Nassr under his leadership has not materialised. Ronaldo continues to find the net, but the collective success that defined much of his European career remains elusive in the Middle East.