Is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Curse Finally Breaking, or Will History Repeat Again?

What a rollercoaster the 2025 Saudi Super Cup final turned out to be! Al Nassr and Al Ahli went head-to-head, each clutching the ambition and skills that promised a thrilling showdown. Yet, for Cristiano Ronaldo, the night carried its own sting—a hunt for that elusive first club trophy with Al Nassr continues. Since crashing into the Saudi scene back in late 2022, Ronaldo’s mission was clear: lead his squad to glory. Time and again, the team danced on the brink, edging behind stalwarts like Al Ittihad and Al Hilal in the league, only to stumble in the final hurdles of domestic competitions. Over two and a half years, three finals have passed, all heartbreakingly out of reach—Al Hilal thwarted their dreams twice, and just recently, Al Ahli claimed victory when it mattered most. The saga drags on, extending CR7’s club-title drought well beyond four years—the last silverware clutched in Italy with Juventus. As Ronaldo’s quest for an official club championship presses onward, every match isn’t just a game; it’s a chapter in a relentless pursuit of football redemption. LEARN MORE

The 2025 Saudi Super Cup final was a match to remember. Throughout the game, both Al Nassr and Al Ahli showed they had the tools to claim the trophy, providing moments of intense excitement. The final result was frustrating for Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still searching for his first club title with Al Nassr.

Since joining Al Nassr in December 2022, Ronaldo’s main goal has been to lead the team to a major trophy, and they’ve come close several times. In the Saudi Pro League, they’ve consistently finished behind Al Ittihad and Al Hilal, and their fortunes in other domestic tournaments have been no better.

In the two and a half years Cristiano has spent in Saudi Arabia, he’s reached three finals—and lost all three. Al Hilal defeated him in the 2023–24 King’s Cup and the 2024 Saudi Super Cup, while this past Saturday, Al Ahli triumphed in the decisive match of the 2025 Saudi Super Cup.

This extends an incredible winless streak for Ronaldo at the club level: his last title came more than four years ago. It was in May 2021, when he won the Coppa Italia 2020-21 with Juventus, defeating Atalanta in the final. Since then, his time at Manchester United and now at Al Nassr has seen him still searching for an official club trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opener for Al Nassr in the 2025 Saudi Super Cup final against Al Ahli.

Why doesn’t Ronaldo’s only title with Al Nassr count?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s club title drought of more than four years comes with an footnote. On August 12, 2023, the Portuguese forward scored twice to lead Al Nassr to a 2-1 win over Al Hilal in the final of the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, lifting the trophy.

see also

Lionel Messi’s MLS vs. Cristiano Ronaldo’s SPL: Which league came out on top in new global ranking?

However, that title isn’t included in Al Nassr’s official trophy count, nor in Ronaldo’s personal total. The reason? The Arab Club Champions Cup is not recognized as an official FIFA tournament and therefore doesn’t carry the same status as other competitions in which CR7 has competed throughout his career.

The Arab Club Champions Cup is organized by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) and features a wide range of clubs from Asia and Africa that belong to the Arab world. Founded in 1981, the tournament has held 32 editions. Esperance de Tunis and Al-Rasheed share the record with three titles each. Saudi Arabia is the most successful country in the competition’s history, with nine total wins—divided among Al Hilal (2), Al Shabab (2), Al Ettifaq (2), Al Ittihad (1), Al Ahli (1), and Al Nassr (1).

Portugal the exception for Ronaldo

Amid this unprecedented club title drought in Cristiano Ronaldo’s career, the strong performances of his national team have provided a rare bright spot. Earlier this year, Portugal won the 2025 UEFA Nations League by defeating Spain in the final. It was the third major trophy for both Portugal and Ronaldo at the international level—and notably, the only title he has won since 2021.