Soccer sometimes has those bitter ironies that even the greatest geniuses can't swallow. And if there's anyone who hates losing more than anything, it's Cristiano Ronaldo. But this time, the Portuguese went beyond his traditional frustration when he was beaten by Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup. In an embarrassing display, the star left the pitch before he had even received his silver medal and, even worse, mocked his own team on the pitch. An attitude that, at the very least, shows how dissatisfied he is with the path he has chosen by moving to Arab soccer.
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The scene is almost symbolic: one of the greatest players in history pretending to sleep, just after his team had conceded their fourth goal in a 20-minute span. A player of this caliber, who has lifted trophies so many times in his glorious spells at Madrid, Manchester and Turin, now finds himself at an Al-Nassr team unable to compete. Cristiano's gesture seemed a cruel and realistic representation of the deep slumber in which his team finds itself as it struggles to keep its competitive flame alive.
The game, which got off to a promising start with Ronaldo opening the scoring, soon turned into a nightmare worthy of a nightmare. Al-Hilal, led by Jorge Jesus, took no notice of their rivals. Mitrovic was sharp as a razor, with two goals in a row, and Malcom, with the help of a grotesque mistake by the goalkeeper, rounded off the scoring. It was a chilling turnaround, and there's no doubt that Al-Nassr's performance left a lot to be desired. It's almost comical that, in the same game in which Ronaldo shone for a moment, he was swallowed up by the mediocrity around him.
And like a good protagonist in a dramatic soap opera, Cristiano Ronaldo didn't stay for the epilogue. Unlike his teammates, who had to swallow their pride and receive their runners-up medals, the Portuguese went straight to the dressing room. An attitude that can be understood, considering his history of winning and his aversion to defeat, but which also reveals a Ronaldo who can't cope with the reality of Arab soccer. After all, since arriving at Al-Nassr, he has yet to lift an official trophy, and hopes of a “second youth” in the Middle East seem increasingly distant.
Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo's choice of Saudi Arabia has always been viewed with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. For many, it was a marketing move and a way to end his career in style, financially speaking. The truth is that Ronaldo is facing a harsh reality: he may be a legend, but legends also need good supporting players to keep shining. And for the time being, his teammates seem to be more lost than ever.
Cristiano Ronaldo's dissatisfaction, demonstrated so explicitly on the pitch, also serves as a harbinger of things to come. Will he hold out until his contract expires in June 2025? Or will the star, accustomed to the limelight of the big stages, seek an early exit, perhaps for a more dignified return to European soccer? Because, let's be honest, as much as money talks, Ronaldo is not the kind of player who is content to live for appearances. He wants to win. He wants to be the protagonist, not a piece of a broken puzzle.
What is clear is that this defeat to Al-Hilal was more than just a setback on the pitch. It was a brutal reminder to Cristiano Ronaldo that he won't always be able to carry an entire team on his back. Al-Nassr, despite the weight of their star player's name, still need a lot to reach the level expected of a team that has one of the greatest players of all time in its ranks.
But does Cristiano Ronaldo have the patience to wait for this evolution? Or is the Portuguese already beginning to question whether he made the right choice by venturing into Saudi soccer? Only time will tell.
Cristiano Ronaldo, even in a scenario as unlikely as Saudi Arabia, remains a central character in the theater of world soccer. But like any good play, sometimes the protagonist also has to face up to the fact that the script is out of his hands. And no matter how much he fights, brawls and mocks, fate is not always kind to its heroes.