Cristiano Ronaldo issues rallying cry as bizarre late own goal puts Al-Nassr title celebrations on hold

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Cristiano Ronaldo issues rallying cry as bizarre late own goal puts Al-Nassr title celebrations on hold

Cristiano Ronaldo issues rallying cry as bizarre late own goal puts Al-Nassr title celebrations on hold

Al-Nassr conceded a late equaliser on Tuesday, leaving them with work to do to seal the Saudi Pro League title

Cristiano Ronaldo issues rallying cry as bizarre late own goal puts Al-Nassr title celebrations on hold

Al-Nassr conceded a late equaliser on Tuesday, leaving them with work to do to seal the Saudi Pro League title

Cristiano Ronaldo's quest for a first Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr hit a heart-stopping snag on Tuesday, as a bizarre own goal in the dying seconds kept the championship celebrations on ice.

The Portuguese icon watched from the bench after being substituted, only to see his team's hopes unravel in the most dramatic fashion. Al-Nassr were leading fierce rivals Al-Hilal 1-0 deep into the eighth minute of stoppage time—just seconds away from clinching the league. Then came the twist: goalkeeper Bento fumbled a long throw-in into his own net, handing Al-Hilal a 1-1 draw and leaving the title race wide open.

Ronaldo, visibly distraught, quickly turned to social media to rally his troops. "The dream is close," he posted on X, addressing his teammates and over 100 million followers. "Heads up, we have one more step to take!"

For Al-Nassr, the league drought stretches back to 2019—long before Ronaldo's blockbuster arrival, which was part of Saudi Arabia's push to become a global football powerhouse. Despite the derby drama, the title remains firmly within reach. Al-Nassr hold a five-point lead over Al-Hilal with one game remaining, and a win against relegation-threatened Damac on May 21 would seal the deal. Al-Hilal, with two matches left, could narrow the gap to two points if they beat Neom on Saturday.

But Ronaldo's focus isn't just on the league. Before that decisive clash, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has a chance to claim his first major trophy with Al-Nassr when they face Japan's Gamba Osaka in the Champions League Two final in Riyadh on Sunday. It's a golden opportunity to add silverware to his already glittering career.

Looking further ahead, Ronaldo is set to play in his sixth World Cup with Portugal after FIFA deferred two games of a three-match ban. He's made no secret that this will be his final shot at football's biggest prize. With a year left on his Al-Nassr contract and rapidly closing in on 1,000 career goals, the 40-year-old shows no signs of slowing down.

For fans and collectors alike, every moment of this title chase is a piece of history in the making.

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