RismadarVoice Reporters
May 17, 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo suffered another major setback after Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr lost 1-0 to Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League final on Saturday.
The defeat prolonged the Portuguese star’s wait for his first major trophy since joining Al Nassr in a high-profile move in 2023.
Playing before about 26,000 supporters at the King Saud University Stadium, Al Nassr entered the match as favourites to become the first Saudi club to win the AFC Champions League Two title, regarded as Asia’s equivalent of Europe’s secondary continental competition.
Despite dominating large periods of the encounter, Al Nassr were undone by a first-half strike from Gamba Osaka forward Deniz Hummet, who capitalised on a through pass from Issam Jebali before finishing from the edge of the penalty area in the 29th minute.
Al Nassr intensified pressure in the second half and created several opportunities, but the Japanese side held firm to secure the victory.
Reacting after the match, Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus admitted his side struggled early in the game and were punished for it.
He said the team improved after the opening stages and controlled much of the contest but failed to convert their dominance into goals.
The defeat comes just days after Ronaldo experienced another disappointment in the Saudi Pro League title race, when a late own goal denied Al Nassr victory against Al Hilal.
Despite the latest setback, Al Nassr remain in contention for the domestic league title and is two points ahead of Al Hilal with one game remaining in the season.
Coach Jorge Jesus said the team must quickly recover and focus on their remaining league fixture, stressing that there is no time to dwell on the defeat.
