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Will Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi stay end in failure? A missed sitter saw Al-Nassr's Champions League hopes die, he was banned for a rude gesture and rivals Al-Hilal are stealing his limelight

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There was a time when Cristiano Ronaldo could bend such big games to his will.

However fraught and frenetic the action, one man would rise above the madness - metaphorically and usually literally - to power his team to victory.

So when the Portuguese star was presented with a tap-in from just three yards to level the AFC Champions League quarter-final between Al-Nassr and Al-Ain at 3-3 on aggregate, you expected the net to bulge.


But Ronaldo inexplicably missed and could only look forlornly to the assistant referee for a raised offside flag to spare his blushes. It never came.

It was uncharacteristic of the reliable Ronaldo we have come to know and love. The man who, even aged 39, has rattled in 29 goals in 32 matches for his Saudi Arabian team this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts in despair as Al-Nassr crash out the AFC Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts in despair as Al-Nassr crash out the AFC Champions League

In Monday night's quarter-final, second leg Ronaldo missed this three-yard sitter to level the tie with Emirati team Al-Ain at 3-3 on aggregate

In Monday night's quarter-final, second leg Ronaldo missed this three-yard sitter to level the tie with Emirati team Al-Ain at 3-3 on aggregate  

The 39-year-old was stunned by his miss and looked to the official in the hope of seeing a raised flag - but in vain

The 39-year-old was stunned by his miss and looked to the official in the hope of seeing a raised flag - but in vain

An hour-and-a-half later and Al-Nassr were out on penalties and Ronaldo's chances of winning the Asian version of the Champions League to go with his five European ones hit the dust for another year.

With that missed opportunity, Ronaldo's stay in Saudi looks increasingly unlikely to provide him with the silverware he wants to embellish an extraordinary career.

Out of continental competition and 12 points behind rivals Al-Hilal in the Pro League title race, the only prizes he can win in his second season there now are the King Cup and the Super Cup.

Al-Hilal will probably block their way in both of those eventually and they inflicted a crushing 3-0 loss on Al-Nassr in the league back in December.

Even Ronaldo's grip on the Pro League Golden Boot prize is under threat from Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is just two goals behind his tally of 22.

For all Ronaldo is doing to elevate the profile of the Saudi league, for all the Ā£173million-a-year he is earning and all the photoshoots in national dress and at landmarks to promote the country, it'll all be worth little if he doesn't win anything significant.

The Champions League was the big one, but a Pro League title would also be highly satisfactory for the competition's biggest name.

But Al-Hilal have been a juggernaut this season, winning 27 consecutive matches in all competitions, which equalled the world record set by Welsh club The New Saints in 2016-17.

Al-Nassr's rivals Al-Hilal have won 27 consecutive matches in all competitions, equalling a record that was set by Welsh club The New Saints

Al-Nassr's rivals Al-Hilal have won 27 consecutive matches in all competitions, equalling a record that was set by Welsh club The New Saints

Al-Hilal are doing all of this even without their injured star Neymar, who was deregistered

Al-Hilal are doing all of this even without their injured star Neymar, who was deregistered 

Even without their injured star Neymar, they've just kept on winning and Al-Nassr, not to mention the rest, simply cannot keep pace.

Ronaldo's sole trophy so far in Saudi was last year's Arab Champions Cup - when he scored twice to win the final against Al-Hilal - but the bigger prizes will have to be won next year, in the final year of his deal.

Which leads to all kinds of 'what's ifs'. What if Ronaldo shines for Portugal at Euro 2024 this summer and a European club decides to give him one last hurrah as he enters his 40s?

If that comes with the chance to scoop up some more silverware for the CV, surely Ronaldo will take the opportunity even on a pay cut?

His desire to lift trophies still burns strongly and it can be seen in his moments of petulance and frustration when things go wrong, or when those playing alongside him don't quite measure up.

Ronaldo's girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez has also been a hit on the social scene in Saudi Arabia

Ronaldo's girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez has also been a hit on the social scene in Saudi Arabia 

Ronaldo has lived like a king in Saudi Arabia, earning a staggering Ā£173m-a-year at Al-Nassr

Ronaldo has lived like a king in Saudi Arabia, earning a staggering Ā£173m-a-year at Al-Nassr 

The star dressed in traditional Saudi robes to mark the country's National Day last September

The star dressed in traditional Saudi robes to mark the country's National Day last September

Ronaldo helped his team win the Arab Champions Cup last year - his only silverware to date

Ronaldo helped his team win the Arab Champions Cup last year - his only silverware to date

But Ronaldo's prospects of winning further trophies this season have now diminished

But Ronaldo's prospects of winning further trophies this season have now diminished 

Twice now Ronaldo has reacted to rival fans chanting 'Messi, Messi' by making an obscene gesture.

Last April, he grabbed his crotch as he walked down the tunnel in response to Al-Hilal fans.

Coming during the holy month of Ramadan, Ronaldo was accused of 'a crime of public dishonour' by Saudi lawyer Nouf bin Ahmed, who called for him to be deported.

That was never going to happen and Al-Nassr passed off the incident by saying Ronaldo had taken a painful blow in a sensitive area during the game.

But when Ronaldo thrust his pelvis in the direction of mocking fans during a recent match with Al-Shabab, the football authorities had little alternative but to ban him for one match and issue a Ā£6,250 fine.

Ronaldo was banned for a match after making an obscene gesture last month

Ronaldo was banned for a match after making an obscene gesture last month

After the home fans taunted him with Messi chants, Ronaldo appeared to make an obscene gesture
Reports claim that the Saudi FA have since opened an investigation into the incident

Ronaldo appeared to make an obscene gesture following Al-Nassr's win over Al-Shabab

Ronaldo was criticised after he grabbed his crotch in response to fans chanting 'Messi, Messi' when Al-Nassr played Al-Hilal last season

Ronaldo was criticised after he grabbed his crotch in response to fans chanting 'Messi, Messi' when Al-Nassr played Al-Hilal last season 

Ronaldo apologised and described it as a 'misunderstanding', with the gesture apparently 'normal in Europe', but he's old enough to know better and not get so rattled.

As Al-Nassr play out their league campaign and the games become increasingly meaningless, Ronaldo will have to keep a lid on the frustrations and concentrate on winning the cups.

But at the moment, it's Al-Hilal who are hogging his limelight and the Champions League exit - and that dreadful missed sitter - is another blow.

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