Ronaldo inconsolable as keeper errors stop him from winning Saudi league title; issues war cry on social media

Cristiano Ronaldo cut an inconsolable and frustrated figure as a last-ditch error from Al Nassr goalkeeper stopped the Riyadh-based club from winning the Saudi Pro League title. The 41-year-old Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in January 2023, is still waiting for his first domestic trophy.

A victory for Al Nassr on Tuesday against Al Hilal would have completed Ronaldo's dream, but it wasn't to be as goalkeeper Bento scored a 98th-minute own goal to finish the match 1-1.

Ronaldo frustrated after Bento's error

Al Nassr were seconds away from clinching the title for the first time since the 2018-2019 season when Brazil international Bento failed to claim a long Al Hilal throw-in, with the ball bouncing into his own net.

Such was the impact of the own goal on Ronaldo that he became immovable from his seat in the dugout after the match, refusing to move on as his teammates tried to console him. The videos of it have been going viral.

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Watch: Ronaldo loses cool after Al Hilal draw

Ronaldo, however, later managed to regain his composure and issued a war cry on social media.

"The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take! Thank you all for the amazing support tonight," Ronaldo wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Al Nassr's scenarios

With one match remaining, Al Nassr sit top of the table with 83 points from 33 games, five points clear of second-placed Al Hilal, who have a game in hand.

Al Nassr will secure the title by beating Damac in their final match of the season on May 21 or they could be crowned champions if Al Hilal fail to beat Neom on Saturday.

Mohamed Simakan opened the scoring for hosts Al Nassr from a corner in the 37th minute and Kingsley Coman missed a huge chance to make it 2-0 near the interval, when his effort struck the post.

Ronaldo also saw an effort fly wide seconds after the restart.

With agency inputs