Frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo Criticizes Al-Nassr Teammates for 'Being Asleep' vs Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal outperformed Al-Nassr in the Saudi Super Cup game to lift the trophy and show their supremacy. Al-Nassr scored a 44th-minute goal for Cristiano Ronaldo, but the club suffered as Al-Hilal gained control. In the 55th minute, Sergej Milinković-Savič equalised; two quick scores from Aleksandar Mitrovič in the 63rd and 69th minutes followed. In the 72nd minute, Malcom clinched the win. Al-Hilal's coherent performance stopped Al-Nassr and guaranteed a 4-1 victory. Until the first half, which highlighted Al-Hilal's skill and efficiency on the field, the game was a fierce struggle.

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Upset Cristiano Ronaldo tells Al-Nassr teammates they're asleep after Al-Hilal scores four goals in 17 minutes

After Al Nassr lost 4-1 against Al Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup on Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo still awaits his first domestic trophy in Saudi Arabia. After Al-Nassr conceded the 4th goal, Ronaldo was furious, and it was evident that despite his great efforts, his team let him down after several defending decisions.  After losing the lead completely in a span of 17 minutes of play, Al-Hilal scored four goals, prompting Cristiano Ronaldo to make a gesture that suggests the Al-Nassr players are sleeping.

Opening the score in the game between Saudi Pro League winners Al Hilal and runner-up Al Nassr right before halftime was the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Cristiano Ronaldo's early strike notwithstanding, the 39-year-old forward felt letdown when Al Hilal rallied with four goals in the second half inside a 17-minute frame.

After a setup from Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in December 2022 and established a league record last season with 35 goals, struck the target in the 44th minute, turning a close-range attempt. Al Nassr's lead was fleeting nevertheless. With Sergej Milinkovic-Savic equalising 10 minutes after the interval with a powerful shot following a partnership with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Al Hilal's Serbian combo controlled the second half.

Eight minutes later Mitrovic sent Al Hilal ahead, precisely crossing from Rúben Neves. Leveraging a feed from Brazilian winger Malcom to drive the ball into the net, the former Fulham striker widened the lead in the 69th minute. Just three minutes later, Malcom clinched the win by capitalising on a miscontrol by Al Nassr's custodian Bento following a feed from Aymeric Laporte to simply put the ball inside.

Al Hilal is now the most successful team in the event with three more trophies than Al Nassr, having won the Super Cup five times overall and twice in a row, thanks to this triumph. The loss was another blow for Ronaldo and Al Nassr; Al Hilal had previously defeated them in the Saudi King's Cup and the Saudi Pro League championship contest from last season.

Starting on Thursday, the new Saudi Pro League season features Al Nassr hosting Al Raed.