Cristiano Ronaldo vows to play better with Al Nassr after the 2023-2024 empty season in Saudi Arabia.

“Play, learn, grow and repeat that process. Thank you for your support this season. We will come back stronger,” Cristiano Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on June 2.

In the closing match of the season on May 31, Ronaldo and his Al Nassr teammates lost 4-5 to Al Hilal in the Saudi National Cup – King Cup final penalty shootout. Al Hilal missed the first and sixth penalties, but Al Nassr also missed the first, sixth and seventh penalties. Ronaldo kicked in in the second round, but could not help Al Nassr escape defeat. Afterwards, the 39-year-old striker sobbed on the King Abdullah Sports City field.

Ronaldo’s girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, also posted a regretful message: “Only a penalty shootout away from winning the King Cup. Congratulations to Al Nassr on what he has shown.”

Ronaldo: We will come back stronger

Ronaldo cried when Al Nassr lost to Al Hilal in the penalty shootout of the Saudi National Cup final on May 31 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Photo: Reuters

The King Cup final was Al Nassr’s third defeat this season against Al Hilal. Previously, Ronaldo’s team lost 1-2 in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup and finished second, behind this opponent, in the Saudi Pro League.

The only consolation for Ronaldo is personal achievement. The 39-year-old striker has scored 50 goals and assisted 13 times in 51 matches for Al Nassr this season, including a record of 35 goals in the Saudi Pro League.

Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in the second half of the 2022-2023 season, a period when he scored 14 goals in 19 matches. Including the 2021-2022 season and the first half of the 2022-2023 season with Man Utd, CR7 has been empty-handed for three consecutive seasons. He has a contract with Al Nassr until June 2025.

Ronaldo is about to join the Portuguese team for Euro 2024 in Germany. Portugal will play a friendly against Finland on June 4, Croatia June 8, Republic of Ireland on August 11, before meeting three teams in Euro Group F: Czech Republic on June 18, Türkiye on June 22 and Georgia June 26.

Euro consists of 24 teams divided into six groups. The top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the 1/8 round. Ronaldo and Portugal each won the Euro championship in 2016.

Before coming to Al Nassr, CR7 won five Golden Balls, five Champions Leagues, three Premier Leagues, two La Liga and two Serie A at the club level. His Champions League record is only behind legendary Paco Gento and four former teammates Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal and Nacho. On the evening of June 1, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal and Nacho won their sixth title by defeating Dortmund 2-0.