Cristiano Ronaldo Targeted by Online Trolls After Al-Nassr’s First Loss
Al-Nassr’s first defeat of the season didn’t just hurt on the pitch — it sparked viral reactions with Cristiano Ronaldo right at the center.
The Night Al-Nassr’s Run Came to an End
Al-Nassr’s perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season came crashing down in dramatic fashion. A 3-2 defeat to Al-Ahli not only halted their momentum, but left Cristiano Ronaldo visibly frustrated on a night where little went his way.
Despite the loss, Al-Nassr remain top of the table, though the gap has tightened significantly with Al-Hilal now just two points behind and holding a game in hand.
Toney Strikes, Al-Ahli Hold Firm
The match swung early in Al-Ahli’s favor thanks to a brace from Ivan Toney, who punished defensive lapses to put his side 2-0 up. Abdulelah Al-Amri responded with two goals of his own, dragging Al-Nassr back level and igniting hopes of another comeback.
That optimism was short-lived. In the 55th minute, Merih Demiral rose to the occasion, scoring what proved to be the decisive goal. Even after being reduced to ten men in stoppage time, Al-Ahli showed composure to see the match out.
A Frustrating Evening for Ronaldo
It was a rare off-night for Cristiano Ronaldo. Closely marked and short on service, the Portuguese forward struggled to influence proceedings and squandered one clear opportunity, blasting over the bar when Al-Nassr needed inspiration.
The performance stood in contrast to his confident pre-match message on social media, where he insisted the team was “on the right path” heading into 2026.
Demiral’s Post Sparks Viral Reaction
The most talked-about moment came after the final whistle. Merih Demiral, a former Juventus teammate of Ronaldo, shared an AI-generated image that quickly went viral.
The image showed Demiral reading a newspaper headline that originally read “Al-Nassr never lost a match this season,” crossed out and replaced with: “Al-Nassr never played against Al-Ahli this season.” The post was widely interpreted as a pointed jab following the end of Al-Nassr’s unbeaten run.
Heated Scenes and Apologies After the Whistle
Tempers flared after the match, with Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix briefly involved in a confrontation with an Al-Ahli official. According to A Bola, sporting director Rui Pedro Braz later reached out personally to both players to apologize.
Braz reportedly explained that his emotional reaction stemmed from concern for goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, who had been upset at halftime after committing an error.
Ronaldo’s Words Under the Spotlight
Ronaldo’s past comments praising the competitiveness of the Saudi league resurfaced following the defeat. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has consistently defended the level of the Saudi Pro League, insisting it is far more demanding than many outside observers believe.
For now, the mission remains unchanged: deliver Al-Nassr a league title. But as this latest setback showed, the margin for error is thin — and every result carries consequences, both on and off the pitch.
