Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the pitch on Saturday night with another milestone to his name but also with another medal slipping through his fingers. At 40 years old, he had given Al-Nassr just about everything he could in the Saudi Super Cup final — a goal, flashes of brilliance, relentless energy — but it was not enough. Al-Ahli held their nerve in a dramatic 2-2 draw before triumphing in the penalty shootout, leaving Ronaldo and his teammates empty-handed.
For Al-Nassr, this was supposed to be another night of celebration. Jorge Jesus’ men had built their entire campaign around securing trophies for their talisman. Yet in the end, it was Edouard Mendy, Al-Ahli’s commanding goalkeeper, who stole the show and lifted his side to glory.
A Final Played on a Knife Edge
The game began with Al-Nassr pouring forward, eager to give Ronaldo his second piece of silverware in Saudi Arabia after last year’s Arab Club Champions Cup. Early chances came and went — Wesley fizzed one just wide after a surging run, while Joao Felix’s effort was blocked by Mendy, who was quick off his line.
Ronaldo, as ever, refused to remain in the background. Midway through the first half, he attempted a trademark acrobatic overhead kick, though it lacked the venom required and was safely gathered by Mendy. But his persistence soon paid off.
In the 41st minute, a handball from Ali Majrashi inside the box gave Al-Nassr the perfect opportunity. As the crowd held its breath, Ronaldo stepped up. Calm, clinical, inevitable — he sent Mendy the wrong way with a penalty straight down the middle. One-nil, and history made: Ronaldo’s 100th goal for Al-Nassr.
But the lead lasted barely minutes. Franck Kessié, once of Barcelona, conjured a moment of magic, curling a precise shot from the edge of the area beyond goalkeeper Bento. It was a reminder that Al-Ahli, stacked with experience and technical quality, would not fold easily.
A Cruel Twist in the Tale
The second half followed a similar rhythm — Al-Nassr dictating, Ronaldo probing, but Mendy proving a wall in goal. And when Marcelo Brozovic capitalised on a Kessié mistake to curl in a composed finish in the 82nd minute, the final looked settled.
Yet football, especially finals, rarely follows the script. In stoppage time, Roger Ibanez rose highest from a corner and powered a header past Bento. From 2-1 up to 2-2, Al-Nassr had victory snatched from their grasp.
The momentum shifted. By the time the penalty shootout began, Al-Ahli carried belief, while Al-Nassr looked haunted by the late collapse. Mendy sealed it when he dived low to deny Abdullah Al-Khaibari’s spot-kick, crowning himself the night’s hero.
Ronaldo: Milestone Man, but Missing Medals
Even in defeat, Ronaldo stood apart. His penalty took him to 100 goals for Al-Nassr — making him the first player ever to score 100+ goals for five different teams: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Portugal, and now Al-Nassr.
The number is staggering. It reflects not only his enduring talent but also his ability to adapt across leagues and generations. Few 40-year-olds in world football are still capable of shaping finals, yet Ronaldo remains the focal point of Al-Nassr’s attack.
And still, the frustration will linger. Since moving to Saudi Arabia, trophies have been harder to come by than expected. Beyond the Arab Club Champions Cup, Ronaldo has endured painful near-misses in both the league and domestic cups. Saturday was the latest reminder that even his individual brilliance cannot guarantee team success.
The Other Star: Mendy’s Redemption
If Ronaldo was the story for Al-Nassr, then Mendy was the story for Al-Ahli. The Senegalese goalkeeper, who had endured a turbulent end to his Chelsea career, was nothing short of spectacular. He denied Ronaldo in the second half with a sharp save and then stood tallest in the shootout.
Goalkeepers rarely get their due in matches dominated by big-name forwards, but this was Mendy’s night. His composure under pressure gave Al-Ahli the foundation they needed to wrestle momentum away from Al-Nassr.
What It Means for Al-Nassr
For Jorge Jesus and his squad, the result is a bitter pill. They were minutes away from lifting the trophy, only to see it slip away in stoppage time. For a team built around winning now, patience is short.
Their focus now shifts to the Saudi Pro League, with a tricky clash against Al-Taawoun on August 29. The league remains the one competition where Ronaldo and Al-Nassr can reaffirm their dominance and avoid a season defined by “what ifs.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has built a career on rewriting history books, and even in Saudi Arabia, he continues to set records. His 100th goal for Al-Nassr cements his place as one of the game’s great survivors, adapting and excelling wherever he plays.
