Renowned Portuguese football icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, took to social media to express his gratitude to fans after playing a pivotal role in Al-Nassr's triumphant comeback against Al-Hilal, resulting in their victory at the Arab Club Champions Cup.
During the final held at the King Fahd Stadium, Al-Hilal initially took the lead. Brazilian player Michael scored with a close-range header in the 53rd minute and imitated Ronaldo's signature 'Siu' celebration.
Despite challenges, Al-Nassr fought back. However, they faced a setback when Abdulelah Al-Amri received a red card in the 71st minute. This setback didn't deter them as Ronaldo struck his first goal of the night, tapping the ball into the net after impressive build-up play.
Even with a nine-men team due to another red card, this time shown to Nawaf Boushal, Al-Nassr managed to take the lead for the first time in the game through Ronaldo. Seko Fofana's shot hit the crossbar, and the 38-year-old veteran headed the ball into the net during the eighth minute of extra time.
The drama continued as Al-Hilal was granted a penalty in extra time, but VAR overturned the decision correctly, leading to heightened emotions on the field. Ronaldo left the field due to injury after enduring two tough tackles from former Chelsea player Kalidou Koulibaly.
Ronaldo's two goals played a crucial role in securing Al-Nassr's victory over Al-Hilal, leading to their conquest of the Arab Champions Club Cup.
The Portuguese footballer shared a snapshot of himself with the trophy on his Instagram, expressing his appreciation to fans for their unwavering support during this achievement.
He wrote,
"Extremely proud to have helped the team secure this significant trophy for the first time! Thank you to everyone in the club who contributed to this remarkable success, and to my family and friends for their constant support! Immense gratitude to our fans for their fantastic backing. This victory is for all of you!"