Cristiano Ronaldo left the field amidst joyful “Messi, Messi, Messi!” chants from enthusiastic Al Hilal fans who had just witnessed their Saudi Pro League team secure a 3-0 victory over Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the Riyadh derby on Friday.
Despite ending up on the losing side, with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring twice after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s initial goal for Al Hilal, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner continued to be the focal point in Saudi Arabian soccer. During his warm-up, the thousands of away fans, many sporting No. 7 jerseys, cheered, while the home supporters responded with jeers.
In the preceding 14 league games, Ronaldo, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward, scored 15 goals, topping the charts and propelling Al Nassr—featuring stars like Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozovic, and Alex Telles—to second place in the league behind Al Hilal.
“Cristiano Ronaldo serves as an exemplary figure for everyone, and Al Nassr is privileged to have him,” affirmed Al Nassr coach Luis Castro. “He embodies traits of discipline, ambition, and precision. Many aspire to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo, yet only a few are willing to invest the same level of effort. If genuine achievement is your goal, a wholehearted commitment is essential.”
On Friday, Ronaldo gave his all. In the second half, with Al Nassr trailing by a lone goal, he delivered a potent volley into the net, only to have it narrowly disallowed for offside. Subsequently, he contended that he had been elbowed while on the ground in the Al Hilal penalty area.
When Mitrovic scored Al Hilal’s second goal late in the game, Ronaldo maintained that he had been fouled in the buildup. Although Al Hilal possesses its own superstar in Neymar, his current impact is diminished due to a severe injury suffered while representing Brazil in October. Neymar, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain in August, has conveyed best wishes to his teammates, including Mitrovic, midfielder Rúben Neves, and defender Kalidou Koulibaly, all of whom arrived in the summer as highly regarded players from the English Premier League.
The squad also includes Saudi Arabian internationals like Salem Al-Dawsari and Saleh Al-Shehri, with the latter scoring against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Saudi Arabia’s memorable 2-1 victory at the 2022 World Cup.
Following the derby defeat on Friday, Al Nassr finds itself seven points behind the league leader, Al Hilal, after 15 rounds. While Ronaldo faces a formidable challenge in helping his team secure their tenth title, his outstanding performance this season suggests he may have the final say, with the Messi chants gradually subsiding.
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