CRISTIANO RONALDO has seen his dreams of winning the Saudi Pro League thrown away by a stunning error by his Al Nassr team-mate with just 10 SECONDS left to play.
Al-Nassr were beating title rivals Al-Hilal 1-0, knowing that victory would finally secure the title for five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo.
However, with just 10 seconds left to play after eight minutes of injury time, Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento made a catastrophic error that cost his club the title.
The 26-year-old, who was named in Brazil‘s provisional World Cup squad by Carlo Ancelotti earlier on Tuesday, went to claim a cross from a throw-in. But as the ball was about to fall straight into his arms, he was nudged off course while jumping by team-mate Iñigo Martínez.
That caused him to tip the ball into his own net and concede the fatal equaliser.
It left Ronaldo, 41, in disbelief on the bench.
He was firstly seen shaking his head before sitting back in his chair on the bench – having been subbed off in the 83rd minute.
Ronaldo, who was being supported at the game by his partner Georgina Rodriguez, their kids and his mum, then got up and started to walk off towards the tunnel while waving his arms around and shrugging his shoulders.
Fans of the Portuguese superstar were also in disbelief at the events on social media, with one saying: “I can’t believe Bento did that.”
A second said: “Has there ever been a more unlucky player in the history of football?”
A third added: “RONALDO DOES NOT DESERVE THIS MAN.”
Another said: “Ronaldo got zero luck.”
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star is yet to win the league since heading to the Middle East in 2022.
Al-Nassr have one game left to play and have a five-point lead over Al-Hilal, who can still mathematically catch them with their one game in hand.
That would of course require Al-Nassr to drop points at home to Damac, who are outside the relegation zone on goal difference, on the final day.
Al-Hilal would also need to win both of their games and improve their goal difference by at least five to catch Al-Nassr.
Earlier this season Ronaldo boycotted games after reportedly believing Al-Hilal, one of four clubs owned by PIF with Al-Nassr, were being prioritised in the transfer market.
Reports at the time suggested Ronaldo’s strop had been sparked by a message from former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema before he joined the club from fellow SPL rival Al-Ittihad, whom he had won the league with two years prior.
Ronaldo is still on course to win the league barring a disaster, but that party will now have to wait until later on.
He released a statement following the game which said: “The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take! Thank you all for the amazing support tonight!” – Sun



