Cristiano Ronaldo courted controversy on Saturday evening, opting not to collect his silver medal after Al-Nassr suffered a 1-0 defeat to Gamba Osaka in the 2025/26 AFC Champions League Two Final. The veteran forward was the only Al-Nassr player who did not emerge from the tunnel to receive his medal following the match at the King Saud University Stadium.
The loss marked a significant upset, with Al-Nassr having been considered heavy favourites to lift the trophy, which would have made them the first Saudi Arabian side in history to win the competition. Gamba Osaka secured the victory thanks to Deniz Hummet’s goal in the 29th minute.
A night of frustration for Ronaldo
Despite Al-Nassr dominating possession with 67% and registering 14 more shots than their Japanese opponents, they failed to find an equaliser. Gamba Osaka goalkeeper Rui Araki was instrumental in preserving his side’s clean sheet.
For Ronaldo, 41, it was a particularly challenging night. His individual statistics painted a picture of an uncharacteristically ineffective performance:
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- Five shots on goal, none of which found the target.
- Missed two significant scoring opportunities.
- A pass accuracy of 76%.
- Won none of his four duels.
His performance earned him a Sofascore rating of 5.9/10, a score that ranks as the joint third-worst of his extensive tracked career. According to Sofascore, this marks only the fourth time in 699 tracked matches that Ronaldo has fallen below a 6.0 rating. His lowest recorded rating was 5.5 against Valencia in the 2018/19 Champions League, a match where he played just 29 minutes before receiving a red card.
Fan criticism and a look ahead
Ronaldo’s decision to forgo the medal ceremony drew sharp criticism from fans online. “This guy is a disgrace of an example to young kids,” one fan commented on Reddit, as reported by GIVEMESPORT.
Despite the disappointment, Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus quickly shifted focus to the team’s next challenge. “We didn’t get what we wanted here but there is one more final for us – the Saudi Pro League title – which is very important to us,” Jesus stated, as quoted by the AFC official website. “We have five days to recover and prepare and there is no time for grieving. We have to get going again.”
Al-Nassr currently hold a two-point lead over Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. They can secure the league title if they defeat Damac on Thursday, offering a swift opportunity for redemption after their continental final heartbreak.
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Sources: www.givemesport.com, www.sofascore.com, www.valnetinc.com
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