In a decisive final of the Saudi Arabian Super Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo saw his chance to win his first title of the season slip away as Al Nassr fell 1-4 to Al-Hilal. Despite a strong start where Ronaldo scored a goal just a minute before halftime, the standout performances by Serbian players Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic turned the tide of the match.

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Beyond the notable plays and performances, fans believe Ronaldo's defeat was due to his decision to touch the trophy before the match, lending credence to the legend that "you should never touch the trophy before playing the final." While this is a myth in sports, history shows several cases where the curse seems to have been fulfilled. Here are some prominent examples:

1. Gatusso 

On May 25, 2005, AC Milan suffered when Italian midfielder Gattuso touched the cup. Despite leading 0-3 at halftime, Liverpool equalized 3-3 in the second half and won 1-3 in the penalty shootout, achieving a historic comeback.

2. Dimitri Payet

In the Europa League final between Olympique Marseille and Atlético Madrid, Payet not only faced a 0-3 defeat but also had to leave the game injured after 32 minutes.

3. Marinho

On January 30, 2021, Brazilian right-winger Marinho of Santos touched the trophy before the Copa Libertadores final against Palmeiras, and his team lost with a goal from Breno Lopes in stoppage time.

4. Giuly
Ludovic Giuly experienced the curse in two Champions League finals. In 2004, playing for Monaco, he touched the trophy before the match against Porto and lost 3-0. However, in 2006, with Barcelona, he touched the cup before the game against Arsenal and won 2-1, breaking the curse.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite repeatedly stating that you should not touch the trophy before the final, Cristiano Ronaldo did so in the recent Saudi Super Cup. The curse came true for the Portuguese star, who, despite scoring a goal, saw his team lose.