May 17, 2026 | Burma Independent Voice
Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo suffered his second heartbreak in a single week on Saturday, after his Saudi club Al-Nassr fell to a stunning 1-0 defeat against Japanese side Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final.
The defeat further delays Ronaldo’s quest to capture his first major silverware with Al-Nassr since his high-profile move to the club in 2023. Despite unleashing a relentless wave of attacks in the second half, the Saudi side failed to break through a resilient Japanese defense.
Played in front of 26,000 spectators at the King Saud University Stadium, Al-Nassr had entered the match as heavy favorites to become the first Saudi club to win Asia’s secondary tier club competition—the continental equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
However, Gamba Osaka broke the deadlock in the 29th minute when forward Issam Jebali set up striker Deniss Rakels, who fired home a clinical finish from the edge of the penalty area.
“We prepared well, but they were very fast and caught us by surprise. We were not at our best in the first 30 minutes, but we dominated the game after that. They had only one clear chance and they scored from it,” Al-Nassr’s Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus said after the match.
The continental disappointment comes just days after Al-Nassr missed a crucial opportunity to secure the Saudi Pro League title early, following an agonizing late 1-1 draw against second-placed Al-Hilal due to an injury-time own goal by goalkeeper Bento. A victory in that match would have sealed Ronaldo’s first domestic league title in Saudi Arabia, but he instead found himself facing a second bitter disappointment in Riyadh within a span of four days.
“The dream is close. Head up, we only need one more step! Thank you all for the support tonight,” the 41-year-old Ronaldo had posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account following Wednesday’s match against Al-Hilal.
With only one domestic match remaining in the season, Al-Nassr currently hold a two-point lead over rivals Al-Hilal. They can officially clinch the league championship with a victory in their final home game against Damac next Thursday. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal will face Al-Fayha away in their season finale.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted today, but we still have a very important Saudi Pro League match ahead of us. We have five days to recover and prepare. There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves; we must move forward,” manager Jorge Jesus added.
