Cristiano Ronaldo expressed heartfelt gratitude to Al Nassr supporters following the team’s heartbreaking exit from the AFC Champions League semifinals. The Saudi club fell 3-2 to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in a thrilling contest at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Wednesday.
Following the defeat, the Portuguese icon took to Instagram to address fans and reflect on the journey “Sometimes the dream has to wait. I’m proud of this team and everything we gave on the pitch,”. He added, “Thank you to all the fans who believed in us and stood by us every step of the way. Your support means the world,”.
Frustating Night For Ronaldo as Al Nassr Gets Knocked Out
The match started on a rough note for Al Nassr as Kawasaki Frontale struck early through Tatsuya Ito in the 10th minute. Sadio Mane quickly restored parity for the hosts, but Kawasaki regained the lead just before halftime with Yuto Ozeki’s well-timed finish.
Al Nassr pushed for a comeback in the second half and looked close to equalizing again when Ayman Yahya scored in the 87th minute. However, a late winner from Akhiro Lenaga dashed those hopes and sealed the Japanese side’s spot in the final.
It was a particularly frustrating night for Ronaldo, who had several chances to make an impact but couldn’t find the back of the net. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner hit the crossbar in the first half and missed two free-kicks in the dying stages.
Since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, Ronaldo has yet to secure a major trophy with the club.
Kawasaki Frontale’s stunning victory now sets up a historic AFC Champions League final against Al Ahli, another Saudi side. While it will be a third final appearance for Al Ahli, Kawasaki will be competing in the title match for the first time making it a landmark moment for the Japanese club.
