Cristiano Ronaldo sets another disappointing milestone after 5 years from the penalty spot

Cristiano Ronaldo shocks by missing a penalty before Al Nassr stages an impressive comeback in the Saudi Pro League.

The Portuguese superstar was given the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot in the match against Al Fayha in the early hours of March 1 (Vietnam time). With a record of scoring 181 penalties in his career, many believed Ronaldo would easily put his team ahead.

However, he dragged his shot wide of the left post, leaving the score at 0-0 after 11 minutes of play. Ronaldo appeared unable to believe his eyes. This was the second time this season he has missed a penalty for Al Nassr, the previous instance being an unsuccessful attempt in the 5-1 victory over Al Fateh back in October.

Notably, this is the first time since the 2020/21 season that Ronaldo has missed two penalties in a domestic league within the same season. The last occurrence was when he was still playing for Juventus, in matches against Atalanta and Inter Milan.

The situation worsened for Ronaldo and Al Nassr just before halftime when Abdulelah Al-Amri scored an own goal, allowing Al Fayha to take the lead. However, Sadio Mane shone at the right moment with a far-post finish to equalize in the 72nd minute, before Orlando Mosquera's own goal helped Al Nassr turn the tide. Abdullah Al Hamdan sealed the victory just five minutes before the final whistle, securing three valuable points.

This is Al Nassr's tenth consecutive victory, keeping them at the top of the Saudi Pro League with 12 rounds remaining in the season. The gap between the league leaders and the third-placed team is now just three points.

Ronaldo, who has just returned after a period of absence due to suspension, is aiming for his eighth domestic league title in his club career. He has previously won domestic titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus but has missed out on the Saudi Pro League championship in the last three seasons.

While focusing on the title goal, Ronaldo is also beginning to plan for his future off the pitch. On Thursday, it was revealed that he has purchased a 25% stake in the Spanish club Almeria. Coach Rubi even suggested inviting Ronaldo to become a player and co-owner of the club in the future.