Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr suffered a major setback in the 2024–25 season, falling 3–2 to Kawasaki Frontale in the AFC Champions League semifinals. After missing out on a place in the final, the Portuguese star took to social media to share a heartfelt message with fans.
Al Nassr entered the match as heavy favorites, especially with Kawasaki Frontale sitting eighth in Japan’s J1 League. However, the underdogs struck early and held off a late surge, handing Al Nassr a stunning defeat on home soil.
The Portuguese star was at the center of one of the match’s most dramatic moments. With Al Nassr trailing 3–2 in stoppage time, the Ronaldo found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. After beating the keeper with a soft touch, he failed to connect cleanly on the finish—missing a golden opportunity to equalize and sending Al Nassr crashing out of the tournament.
Ronaldo’s message to the fans
With the 24-25 season reaching its conclusion, the defeat against Kawasaki ends up being a huge blow for Al Nassr’s silverware aspirations. As the loss sank in, Ronaldo addressed supporters through a message on his social media:
“Sometimes the dream has to wait. I’m proud of this team and everything we gave on the pitch. Thank you to all the fans who believed in us and stood by us every step of the way. Your support means the world,” Ronaldo wrote minutes after the game.
Despite playing at Alinma Stadium in front of their home fans, Al Nassr couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Kawasaki Frontale will now face Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League final, following Al Ahli’s 3–1 win over Al Hilal in the other semifinal.
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What’s next for Cristiano Ronaldo?
With the Champions League campaign over, Ronaldo’s only remaining shot at silverware this season is in the Saudi Pro League. However, with just five matches left and an eight-point gap separating Al Nassr from the top spot, the title hopes are quickly fading.
