Cristiano Ronaldo is still waiting for his first major trophy with Al-Nassr after the Saudi side suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final.
The upset unfolded in front of more than 26,000 fans at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, where Al-Nassr entered the match as strong favourites to lift Asia’s second-tier club competition, widely viewed as the equivalent of Europe’s Europa League.
Despite dominating large parts of the game, Al-Nassr fell behind in the 30th minute when Deniz Hummet finished clinically after connecting with a through ball from Issam Jebali. The goal stunned the home crowd and shifted momentum toward the Japanese side.
Gamba Osaka defended resolutely throughout the second half, frustrating Ronaldo and Al-Nassr’s attacking line as they protected their lead until the final whistle. The victory made Gamba Osaka the first Japanese club to win the competition and denied Al-Nassr the chance to become its first Saudi Arabian champions.
The result adds another painful chapter to Ronaldo’s time in Saudi Arabia since his high-profile move in January 2023. Despite scoring consistently and remaining one of the league’s biggest attractions, the Portuguese forward is yet to win a major title with the club.
The defeat also comes just days after another setback in the Saudi Pro League title race, when a late own goal from Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento handed rivals Al-Hilal a dramatic 1-1 draw.
Even so, the title race remains alive. Al-Nassr sit narrowly ahead with one game remaining and could secure their 11th Saudi Pro League crown — and first since 2019 — if they defeat Damac in their final fixture on Thursday.
Al-Hilal, chasing a 22nd league title, will play Al-Fayha at the same time, ensuring a tense finish to the season.
After the final defeat, Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus urged his players to move on quickly and refocus on the league title decider.
“We didn’t get what we wanted here but there is one more final for us, the Saudi Pro League title, which is very important to us,” he said. “There is no time for grieving. We have to get going again.”
For Ronaldo, the pressure now shifts entirely to Thursday’s league finale, with another missed opportunity likely to intensify questions about Al-Nassr’s ability to deliver trophies despite their star-studded squad.
