Cristiano Ronaldo issues five-word message after devastating last-minute defeat by Al-Ittihad dented Al-Nassr’s title hopes – despite the forward scoring again

Cristiano Ronaldo has issues a five-word statement after Al-Nassr’s agonising defeat by Al-Ittihad on Friday.

Ronaldo was once again on the scoresheet for his side – his 50th goal involvement in 2024 – but his efforts were in vein after a former Real Madrid team-mate and then an ex-Tottenham star bagged.

Karim Benzema had opened the scoring in the second half, only for Ronaldo to fire in a leveller two minutes later. As his side pushed for the win, however, Steven Bergwijn netted a stoppage time winner to secure all three points for the league leaders.

With 13 games played, Al-Ittihad are on 36 points, with Al-Hilal on 31. Their rivals do, however, have a game in hand.

Ronaldo and Al-Nassr, meanwhile, are fourth in the table on 25 points from 13 games after suffering their second defeat in three games.

With his side already 11 points behind Al-Ittihad in the race to win the league, Ronaldo took to social media to share his reaction to the game.

Ronaldo had scored in the game but Steven Bergwijn netted a winner in stoppage time of the tie

He took to social media to promise fans that his side would ‘come back stronger’ in the future

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner posted on his X, Instagram and Facebook accounts: ‘We will come back stronger.’ 

Friday was the second defeat in as many games for Al-Nassr, with Ronaldo and Co going down 2-0 against Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League on Monday too.

Last time out on the league, they beat Damac 2-0, but that came after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Al Qadsiah. Ronaldo scored all three goals in those two games.

Arriving late in the box just seconds after his former team-mate had scored, Ronaldo fired low into the back of the net to square things up in the game.

Rather than his usual ‘sui’ celebration, he then went to show off a ‘calma’ gesture, which he has part become synonymous with in recent years.

The Portuguese would have hoped his strike could have inspired his side to go on and win what was a crucial tie in the title race, but it was much the opposite.

In total, Al-Nassr have seven wins, four draws and two defeats to their names this season. Ronaldo is second in the goal scoring charts with 11 goals in nine games, behind only Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has netted 12 in 12 for Al-Hilal.