In a dramatic turn of events at the Saudi Super Cup semifinal, Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Al Nassr, was shown a red card late in the game, leading to his team's 2-1 defeat against city rivals Al Hilal in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
The tension escalated in the match when Ronaldo was given a straight red card just four minutes before the final whistle for elbowing an opponent, leaving his team down 2-0.
Despite Al Nassr scoring a late consolation goal, Ronaldo's dismissal further compounded their woes.
In a moment captured on video, Ronaldo appeared to raise his fist in a punching gesture towards the referee as the official walked away from the 39-year-old, adding to the controversy surrounding his expulsion.
The Super Cup defeat now dims the prospects of Ronaldo lifting a trophy since joining Al Nassr in 2023. With their elimination from the domestic cup and the Asian Champions League, coupled with a 12-point gap behind league leaders Al Hilal with seven games remaining, Ronaldo's hopes for silverware this season are dwindling.
The match saw Al Hilal take the lead in the 62nd minute through Salem Al-Dawsari's goal, followed by Brazilian forward Malcom's header in the 72nd minute to double the lead. Despite Sadio Mané's stoppage-time goal for Al Nassr, it wasn't enough to turn the tide in their favor.
With Al Hilal advancing to the final, they will aim for a record-extending fourth title when they face Al Ittihad in Thursday's showdown, setting the stage for another thrilling encounter in the Saudi Super Cup.
