Who Cursed Ronaldo? Another Final, Another Trophy Lost for Al Nassr
Three and a half years after arriving at Al Nassr FC, Cristiano Ronaldo is still waiting for his first official trophy with the Saudi club.
And this latest failure may be the most painful yet.
Al Nassr entered the AFC Champions League Two final as overwhelming favorites against Gamba Osaka — only to lose at home in Riyadh and continue a trophy drought that is becoming impossible to ignore. Ronaldo finished the match without a single shot on target despite attempting five efforts overall.
A “Champions League” Final… But Not the Main One
While the tournament carries the “Champions League” branding, the “Two” in AFC Champions League Two matters. This is Asia’s second-tier continental competition — effectively the equivalent of the Europa League in Europe.
Still, Al Nassr were expected to dominate.
The Saudi giants cruised through the Western region, winning all six group-stage matches before eliminating opponents from Turkmenistan, the UAE and Qatar on their path to the final.
Gamba Osaka’s route through the Eastern region was equally impressive, but the gap in squad quality looked enormous on paper. According to Transfermarkt valuations cited before kickoff, Al-Nassr’s squad was worth nearly ten times more than the Japanese side.
Ronaldo was joined by stars such as João Félix, Sadio Mané, Íñigo Martínez and Mohamed Simakan.
Gamba Osaka, meanwhile, arrived with a modest squad, few internationals, and an 18-year-old goalkeeper.
None of that mattered once the game started.
Gamba Osaka Shocked Al Nassr With Fearless Football
The Japanese side played without fear from the opening whistle.
They controlled possession early, pressed aggressively, and repeatedly forced Al Nassr into uncomfortable situations. The home side only began taking control midway through the first half, when Ronaldo started getting involved around the penalty area.
The Portuguese superstar first tested his luck with a dangerous free-kick from just outside the box, but smashed it straight into the wall. Later, he missed two promising opportunities from crosses delivered into the center.
Just when it felt like Al Nassr were building momentum, Gamba Osaka struck first.
After a clever passing sequence around the edge of the box, Deniz Hümmet found space centrally and finished calmly past the goalkeeper. VAR confirmed the goal after a brief review.
Ronaldo responded before halftime with another missed header — his fourth unsuccessful shot of the half.
Ronaldo Tried Everything — But Nothing Worked
The second half became increasingly frustrating for Al Nassr.
Gamba Osaka defended with discipline, constantly shifting between mid and low blocks while closing every dangerous space. Ronaldo dropped deeper and deeper in search of the ball, trying to link attacks and create chances himself.
At one point, he even produced a brilliant assist opportunity for Sadio Mané, but the move ended without a goal.
Manager Jorge Jesus threw more attacking talent onto the pitch, including former FC Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, but Al-Nassr still looked short of creativity and intensity.
Their best chance arrived late when João Félix smashed a long-range strike against the post.
Then came Ronaldo’s final opportunities.
First, he produced a clever backheel pass inside the box for Félix. Moments later, after Gamba Osaka committed numbers forward, Ronaldo found himself in a dangerous counterattacking position — only to fire over the bar.
For a 41-year-old footballer, Ronaldo’s physical performance was still impressive.
For a player expected to lead Portugal national football team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it raised uncomfortable questions.
Five shots. Seven touches inside the box. Zero on target.
And another final lost.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Trophy Drought at Al Nassr Continues
The longer this run continues, the more surreal it becomes.
Since joining Al Nassr in early 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to win a single major official trophy with the club despite playing alongside one of the most expensive squads in Asia.
Every season seems to end the same way: huge expectations, massive hype, and another painful collapse when silverware is on the line.
This time, the disappointment came against a hardworking but limited Gamba Osaka side that simply wanted it more.
Published by Patrick Jane
17.05.2026