Ronaldo receives unprecedented bad news in his career

Cristiano Ronaldo found the net during the Saudi Arabia derby, yet Al-Nassr was defeated by Al-Hilal, witnessing a unique and challenging beginning to 2026 for the Portuguese icon.

The first weeks of a new calendar year rarely have the power to alter the story of a legend. But when Cristiano Ronaldo is involved, even a brief sequence of results can carry historic significance. At the club level, the Portuguese superstar is enduring a turbulent start to 2026, with his latest disappointment in the Saudi Pro League pushing his personal journey into uncharted territory.

With Al-Nassr, the recent defeat against Al Hilal was more than just a loss. It continued a worrying trend, turning what was once seen as a promising title race into a precarious season on the edge. And although Ronaldo once again scored, that goal could not prevent a collapse that carried both sporting and symbolic weight.

The Saudi capital rarely witnesses a calm derby, and the clash with Al-Hilal at Kingdom Arena was no exception. When the league's top two teams face off, the pressure is immense. The hosts entered the match undefeated and highly confident, while Al-Nassr was desperate to halt a worrying downward spiral that had fans anxious.

The opening minutes suggested a different scenario. Al-Nassr started intensely with clear objectives, pressing more aggressively than in recent matches and making the most of transition opportunities. Ronaldo, sharp and alert, was the focal point of every move. In the 42nd minute, his influence was concretized as the Portuguese striker calmly finished after a smooth combination to open the scoring at 1-0, temporarily silencing the home crowd.

As the first half ended, Al-Nassr held the advantage and the match was delicately balanced. But derbies are often decided not by flashes of brilliance, but by how teams respond to chaos.

A decision that changed everything

Football, especially in derby matches, can turn around in seconds. After the break, Al-Hilal increased their pressure with renewed intensity, pushing Al-Nassr back into their own half and forcing mistakes. The equalizer came from a penalty after a clumsy tackle in the box, calmly converted by Salem Al-Dawsari to reset the game.

What followed was pivotal. In the ensuing chaos, Al-Nassr’s goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi was involved in a collision initially punished with a yellow card. However, VAR intervened and upgraded it to a straight red, leaving Al-Nassr with ten men for over 30 minutes of the match.

From that moment, the balance of power shifted decisively to Al-Hilal. The home team controlled possession, intensified pressure, and stretched the weakened opponent’s formation. The turning point came when Mohamed Kanno headed in a goal from a corner, completing the comeback. Not stopping there, a late penalty sealed a 3-1 victory, igniting celebrations in the stands.

A quiet milestone shaping the new year’s start

The final whistle confirmed more than just a derby loss. Al-Hilal extended their lead to 7 points atop the Saudi Pro League, continuing an impressive winning streak and tightening their grip on the title race. Conversely, Al-Nassr has now lost three consecutive domestic matches, their longest losing streak in years.

Amid expert analysis, a special detail gradually emerged, highlighting the rarity of the current situation. For the first time in his entire professional career, Cristiano Ronaldo has started a calendar year with three straight defeats. Throughout his time in England, Spain, Italy, and now Saudi Arabia, this scenario has never occurred.

In a career defined by instant comebacks and relentless winning habits, this statistic stands out as a true anomaly. It does not diminish Ronaldo’s decades of dominance, but it clearly shows how far the current moment deviates from the standards he once set.