Cristiano Ronaldo and his poor start to the year with Al Nassr: from league leaders to losing all chances at the top
The Portuguese forward has delivered on an individual level, but the team has struggled collectively.
Al Nassr made a massive investment last summer with a clear intention: to finally win the Saudi Pro League. With Cristiano Ronaldo as the foundation of the project, the Saudi club formed a high-level squad by adding renowned names such as João Félix, Kingsley Coman, and Íñigo Martínez, in addition to figures already at the club like Sadio Mané and Marcelo Brozović. The debut couldn't have been better: in the first ten rounds, the team sealed a flawless record: ten victories, 30 points, and a strong 1st place position that suggested this time the championship would not slip away.
From Maximum Domination to a Reality Check
However, the start of 2026 completely transformed the landscape. Al Nassr strung together three consecutive losses in the first three matches of the year, an unexpected sequence that collapsed the confidence built over months. The biggest blow occurred against Al Hilal, their arch-enemy in the title race.
The 3-1 defeat was a devastating strike. Had they won, Cristiano's team would have been just one point off the lead, but the loss left them seven points from the top—a dangerous gap in a competition with such small margins.
Cristiano Ronaldo responded once again in the box, scoring two goals in three matches, but this time his goals were not enough. They are goals that do not change results and highlight a collective problem that the team has yet to solve.
Signs of Discouragement with a Goal Moving Further Away
The Portuguese star's expression speaks for itself; he looks tense, frustrated, and aware that the margin for error is narrowing to a minimum. An immediate reaction is required if Al Nassr wants to keep their title hopes alive.
In the last match against Al Hilal, he even showed his anger toward the officiating, explicitly expressing his disagreement and confusion through his gestures. This is a first symptom of the atmosphere in the locker room and the pressure the project is currently under.
Despite everything, the captain has not lost sight of the fact that he must look and think beyond today. While trying to right the ship in Saudi Arabia, he is finalizing his preparation for a major goal on the horizon: reaching the World Cup in June in peak condition, which could be understood as his great upcoming challenge.
The plan was clear and the start a month ago was ideal. Today, the reality is different. Time is moving on, the gap is widening, and a reaction is no longer an option: it must be an obligation.
