Al Nassr drew 1-1 against Al Hilal on Tuesday, missing a golden opportunity to clinch the Saudi Pro League title. Cristiano Ronaldo, however, shared an optimistic message with the club’s fans afterward.
“The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take!” Ronaldo wrote on his official Instagram and X accounts on Tuesday, just minutes after a bizarre mistake by goalkeeper Bento denied Al Nassr both the victory and the title.
“Thank you all for the amazing support tonight!” the Portuguese forward added, acknowledging the thousands of fans who backed the team during the crucial clash against Al Hilal, as well as the millions around the world who continue to follow him throughout every stage of his professional career.
Despite its brevity, the message reflected a dramatic shift in Ronaldo’s mindset within just a matter of minutes. In the immediate aftermath of the final whistle, he appeared deeply affected by the missed opportunity for Al Nassr, to the point that television cameras captured him still sitting on the bench while being comforted by members of the coaching staff.
Fans strongly rallied behind Cristiano’s words. Within just a few minutes, the Instagram post surpassed 500,000 likes and 15,000 comments, most of them containing messages of support for the 40-year-old star. The same happened on X, where the post also generated more than 80,000 likes and 7,000 comments.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s upcoming challenges
Cristiano Ronaldo’s optimistic message is fitting considering the challenges that await him in the short term. Al Nassr are just one step away from securing not one, but two titles this season — and it could happen as soon as next Saturday.
First, Jorge Jesus’ team will attempt to lift the AFC Champions League Two trophy when they face Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the final at Alawwal Park. There, Ronaldo will have the opportunity to win the sixth continental trophy of his career, after capturing one UEFA Champions League title with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid.
That same day, he could also celebrate winning the Saudi Pro League title. While Al Nassr will not play, Al Hilal will face Neom. If Karim Benzema and his teammates fail to win that match, they will no longer have a chance to compete for the league trophy, officially handing the title to Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr.
And even if Al Hilal win that game, Al Nassr will still remain top of the standings with a two-point lead. That means a victory next Tuesday against Damac would secure the trophy regardless of Al Hilal’s result against Al Fayha happening at the same time.
