Cristiano Ronaldo drops 9-word message to teammates after Al Nassr’s upset loss to Al Qadisiya in SPL title race

Al Nassr suffered a major blow in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League title race on Saturday, falling 2–1 to Al Qadsiah in a disappointing result that could prove costly in the final stretch of the season. After the loss, Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a 9-word message to rally his teammates and keep their focus on the road ahead.

Playing at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Al Qadsiah shocked the visitors with goals from Turki Al-Ammar in the 35th minute and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 87th. Despite dominating possession, Al Nassr struggled in the final third—managing just 3 shots on target from 11 total attempts.

Sadio Mane briefly gave the visitors hope with a goal in the 84th minute to level the score, but Aubameyang’s late strike sealed the win for the home side. After the match, Ronaldo posted a message on his X account (formerly Twitter), writing:

“Every game is a chance to grow. Together, Al Nassr.” After scoring 4 goals in the last 2 games, the Portuguese star struggled to get through Al Qadisiya’s low block, ending up having a quiet night by his standards, limited to three shots—two of which were blocked and one that missed the target.

The day also carried emotional weight for Ronaldo, as it marked both his daughter’s birthday and the anniversary of the passing of his son. Prior to the beginning of the game, he shared a touching tribute on social media: “Happy day, my love! Our love is always with you. #AngelyBella.”

Is Ronaldo’s Al Nassr out of the title race?

The defeat comes at a critical time for Al Nassr, who had been riding a four-match winning streak. The loss halts their momentum and leaves their Saudi Pro League title hopes hanging by a thread.

Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad lead the league with 65 points from 28 matches, while Al Hilal sit second with 61. Al Nassr trail both with 57 points, now 8 behind the leaders with just six games remaining in the season. With only 18 points left on the table, Ronaldo and company will need to win out and hope both Al Hilal and Al Ittihad drop points if they are to lift the trophy come season’s end.