Indiana, PA (BN24) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s hunt for a major trophy in Saudi Arabia suffered another setback as Al-Nassr were eliminated from the King’s Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Al-Ittihad — with his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema among the scorers.
The loss marks the tenth time since joining Al-Nassr that Ronaldo has missed out on silverware, prolonging his quest for a first official title in Saudi Arabia. While the Portuguese star lifted the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, that tournament is not officially recognized by FIFA.
Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in January 2023 in a landmark move that shook the football world, once again found himself on the wrong side of a high-stakes encounter. The King’s Cup — Saudi Arabia’s oldest knockout competition — offered a promising chance for redemption, but Al-Ittihad’s resilience proved decisive.
Benzema, facing Ronaldo for the first time since their Real Madrid days, opened the scoring in the 15th minute, slotting home a low cross from Moussa Diaby to give the reigning Saudi Pro League champions an early lead. Al-Nassr hit back when Ronaldo turned provider, assisting Angelo’s equalizer midway through the first half. Yet Al-Ittihad restored their advantage just before halftime when Houssem Aouar capitalized on a defensive lapse to make it 2-1.
The second half unfolded in dramatic fashion. Al-Ittihad defender Ahmed Al Julaydan was sent off early after a reckless challenge, leaving the hosts with ten men for nearly 40 minutes. But despite the numerical advantage, Al-Nassr failed to break through, as Al-Ittihad’s back line, marshaled by goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe, repelled wave after wave of attacks.
Ronaldo had two golden chances to score — a curling free-kick that sailed just wide and a close-range effort that struck the post — but the equalizer never came. As the final whistle blew, frustration was written across the 39-year-old forward’s face.
The defeat extends Al-Nassr’s long-running drought in the King’s Cup — the club has not lifted the prestigious trophy since 1990. Despite the club’s heavy investment in world-class talent, including Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and Aymeric Laporte, their quest for domestic silverware continues to fall short.
Al-Nassr remain undefeated in the Saudi Pro League after six matchdays and currently lead the table, but the latest cup exit underscores a growing narrative around Ronaldo’s Saudi tenure — brilliance on the pitch overshadowed by a lack of trophies.
“This one hurts,” said an Al-Nassr insider after the match. “The team had the advantage, but we couldn’t turn dominance into goals. Ronaldo gave everything, but football can be cruel.”
For now, all eyes turn to the league, where Ronaldo will aim to finally end his Saudi title drought — one that now stretches across ten tournaments and counting.
