RIYADH – Cristiano Ronaldo‘s pursuit of silverware with Al Nassr hit a significant roadblock on Tuesday, as the club was eliminated from the 2024 King’s Cup following a stunning 3-2 aggregate defeat to Al-Ettifaq in the semi-finals. The loss severely diminishes Al Nassr’s chances of securing a trophy this season, leaving the Saudi Pro League title as their remaining hope.
Al Nassr’s failure to qualify for the 2025-26 asian Champions League already narrowed their potential avenues for success, intensifying the pressure to lift the Pro League trophy. Currently leading the league standings with a perfect record through six matches, al Nassr holds a three-point advantage.However, the King’s Cup represented a more immediate opportunity for ronaldo to claim his first club-level title since departing Juventus.
The semi-final tie began with a 1-0 victory for Al Nassr in the first leg. However, Al-Ettifaq overturned the deficit in the second leg, winning 3-1 to secure their place in the final. Despite Ronaldo contributing six goals and one assist in the Saudi Pro League thus far, and Al Nassr boasting an notable goal difference of +19 (21 scored, 2 conceded), the King’s Cup exit underscores the competitive landscape of Saudi Arabian football.
Should Al Nassr maintain their strong form in the league, Ronaldo will have a chance to end his trophy drought. But the King’s cup defeat serves as a stark reminder that success is far from guaranteed, even for a team spearheaded by one of football’s all-time greats.
