Cristiano Ronaldo left the pitch visibly frustrated after being substituted early in the second half.
The Portuguese icon, who found the net in Al Nassr’s 3-1 triumph over Al Kholood, did not hide his disappointment as he made his way directly down the tunnel following his withdrawal from the match.
Ronaldo had given his team the perfect start, scoring just four minutes into the game. However, his night ended earlier than expected when manager Stefano Pioli decided to take him off after an hour, a decision that has once again raised questions about their dynamic.
Known for his relentless desire to play every minute of every game, Ronaldo appeared composed at first, acknowledging Pioli and exchanging gestures with teammate Jhon Duran as he left the field. However, his demeanor quickly changed once he stepped off, making it clear he was far from pleased.
Instead of taking a seat on the bench, the 40-year-old forward headed straight down the tunnel, skipping the usual routine of watching the remainder of the match from the sidelines.
While some speculated that his reaction could have been due to an injury concern, others saw it as another instance of Ronaldo’s dissatisfaction at being substituted.
This match marked the fifth time in 24 league appearances this season that Ronaldo did not complete the full 90 minutes. Moreover, it was the fourth time in the last seven matches that Pioli opted to take him off, signaling a noticeable shift in how the coach is managing his playing time.
Despite his premature exit, Al Nassr successfully closed out the match. First-half goals from Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Jhon Duran had already put them in a dominant position. Even after going down to ten men following Nawaf Boushal’s red card, they maintained control.
However, Ronaldo’s absence seemed to affect the team’s rhythm in the latter stages of the game. A 72nd-minute own goal by Ali Lajami gave Al Kholood a glimmer of hope, but they failed to capitalize further, allowing Al Nassr to secure all three points.
Despite the victory, Al Nassr’s title hopes remain uncertain. The team sits in fourth place in the Saudi Pro League, trailing leaders Al Ittihad by ten points with only nine matches left to play.
Their next challenge will be a high-stakes clash against Al Hilal following the international break, where all attention will be on whether Ronaldo’s frustrations resurface once more.
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