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Cristiano Ronaldo let his frustration boil over during the worst defeat of his Al Nassr tenure on Tuesday evening, taking a swipe at Al Ain midfielder Matías Palacios.
Al Nassr were thrashed 4–0 in their opening fixture of this season's AFC Champions League Elite—a scoreline Ronaldo himself hasn't suffered since Manchester United's shocking mauling by Brentford in the opening weeks of the 2022–23 Premier League campaign.
His side was trailing by three when Ronaldo got into a confrontation with Palacios deep in the second half. The Al Ain midfielder was tracking the Portuguese star as Al Nassr pushed forward, cutting off his run toward the penalty area. Palacios applied a gentle hold, but Ronaldo reacted with what appeared to be considerably more force, using his elbow to break free, sending both players crashing to the ground. No action was taken by the referee.
Strangely, this wasn't even the first altercation between the two. A comparable incident had occurred when Al Nassr demolished Al Ain 5–1 in the same tournament back in November 2024.
Al Ain went on to add a fourth goal, leaving Al Nassr rooted to the bottom of the western group standings in the competition's league phase. On the bright side, seven more games remain for them to chase a top-eight finish and secure a place in the knockout rounds.
Al Nassr head coach Ange Postecoglou conceded that "Al Nassr, as a whole, was poor," while making clear that the responsibility for the defeat rests entirely with him.
Ronaldo's Frustrating Match in Numbers
Only João Félix, who created six chances—according to FotMob—in Al Nassr's colors, could hold his head high. Ronaldo worked tirelessly to drag his team into the game but was consistently stifled.
His five attempts on goal were the most of any player on the pitch, yet three were blocked before reaching the target. One went wide, and only a single effort truly troubled Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, who required just three saves to keep a clean sheet. A mere three of Ronaldo's 29 touches across 90 minutes came inside the box, and he lost the one duel he engaged in.
Ronaldo Faces Uphill Battle to 'Complete' Historic Career
Saudi domestic rivals Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah also claimed victories on the opening matchday. Al Ittihad and defending Asian champions Al Ahli are among the other formidable Saudi sides in the competition, though both settled for draws in their respective opening games.
Al Nassr claimed the Saudi Pro League title last season for the first time during the Ronaldo era, yet the AFC Champions League Elite has continued to prove out of reach for the club.
With this almost certainly his final season before hanging up his boots, Ronaldo would undoubtedly love to bow out in the grandest fashion by lifting the most prestigious club trophy in Asian football. He has already collected five UEFA Champions League titles in Europe, the first coming in 2007–08, and may feel his legacy would be truly complete if he could steer Al Nassr to continental glory in the same campaign in which he reaches 1,000 career goals.
Three Saudi Pro League goals in the opening six matches of 2026–27 leaves Ronaldo on 979 goals at senior club and international level, meaning 21 more would bring up the four-figure milestone and make him the first player in history to officially reach that landmark.
Much of the season still lies ahead, but he will need to sharpen his scoring rate to get there—a task made all the harder if Al Nassr continue to falter in the Champions League.