Ronaldo’s missed penalty breaks kid’s phone, ends Al-Nassr’s Saudi Cup run

Cristiano Ronaldo’s struggles continued as the Portuguese football star missed a crucial stoppage-time penalty, resulting in Al-Nassr's elimination from the King’s Cup. Facing Al-Taawoun in a high-stakes round-of-16 clash, Al-Nassr trailed 0-1 after a header from Waleed Al-Ahmad in the 70th minute. In the final moments, a controversial foul led to a penalty, offering Ronaldo the chance to level the score and keep Al-Nassr’s tournament hopes alive. However, to the shock of the 14,519-strong crowd, Ronaldo's shot went over the bar, handing Al-Taawoun the win.

The missed penalty was particularly surprising as Ronaldo had a perfect record with penalties for Al-Nassr until this match. The miss became even more memorable when the ball accidentally struck a young fan holding his phone near the goal, sending the device flying. Videos of the incident, showing the stunned reaction of the fan, went viral, adding another unexpected layer to the disappointment.

The miss drew criticism from fans and pundits alike, with many noting that Ronaldo has yet to secure a major trophy since joining Al-Nassr nearly two years ago. Despite the setback, Ronaldo remained optimistic, posting on social media, “Every challenge is an opportunity to grow,” and vowing to bounce back stronger.

For Al-Nassr’s new head coach, Stefano Pioli, the defeat marked his first loss since joining the club in September. Pioli expressed his disappointment, commenting, “Technically we performed well, but we couldn’t win the game. We feel disappointed to be out of the cup. But we still have two trophies to go for, and we will give our best in them.”

Currently, Ronaldo and Al-Nassr are six points behind league leaders Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and have seven points in the Asian Champions League group stage, keeping them in contention for silverware in both competitions.