Cristiano Ronaldo, a king without a crown in Saudi Arabia

Arriving at Al Nassr with the aim of filling his trophy cabinet, Cristiano Ronaldo now faces a second consecutive trophyless season on the collective front. On Tuesday night, against Kawasaki Frontale, it all came crashing down for the Portuguese superstar and his teammates.

Final score: 3-2 to the Japanese side. A slap in the face. A bitter disappointment. Al Nassr, the favorites on paper, bow out of the AFC Champions League in the semi-finals. The regret is enormous. And yet, the Saudi squad looked formidable: Sadio Mané, Brozovic, Otavio, Simakan... And of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. On the other side, a modest team ranked eighth in their domestic league. A roster comprised almost entirely of Japanese players.

But football isn't played on paper—it's won on the pitch. Kawasaki defended with heart and attacked with boldness and clinical finishing. In contrast, Al Nassr's stars lacked precision in the decisive moments. Ronaldo had his chances—twice. He rounded the keeper, then shot wide. Later, a well-placed free kick was deflected. This defeat marks yet another trophyless season. Another tough blow for His Majesty CR7... still reigning, but without a crown.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr