Cristiano Ronaldo has once again found himself the focus of global attention after cameras captured him giving himself a pep talk before sending a late free-kick crashing into the defensive wall during Al-Nassr’s King’s Cup defeat to Al-Ittihad.
The 40-year-old Portuguese forward was filmed muttering to himself in the 96th minute as he stood over the ball, seemingly attempting to summon his trademark magic.
One supporter who analysed the clip online claimed Ronaldo could be heard repeating the phrase “You will score,” though the audio remains unclear.
Moments later, his effort thudded straight into the wall, prompting a flurry of viral reactions across social media.
The incident came during a frustrating evening for Al-Nassr, who were knocked out of the King’s Cup by ten-man Al-Ittihad despite dominating much of the second half.
Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Al-Ittihad, before Angelo Gabriel equalised for Al-Nassr just before the half-hour mark.
Houssem Aouar restored the lead on the stroke of half-time, ensuring Benzema’s side entered the break ahead.
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again found himself the focus of global attention after cameras captured him giving himself a pep talk before sending a late free-kick crashing into the defensive wall during Al-Nassr’s King’s Cup defeat to Al-Ittihad
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Al-Ittihad’s task became more difficult in the second period when Ahmed Al Julaydan was dismissed, leaving them to defend their slender advantage with ten men.
Yet Al-Nassr, despite the numerical superiority and a string of late chances, failed to find an equaliser.
Ronaldo came closest after breaking through on goal, but his attempted chip was comfortably saved, leaving him visibly exasperated.
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Cristiano Ronaldo hit a late free-kick into the wall for Al-Nassr on Tuesday night
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The missed free-kick in stoppage time compounded a disappointing night for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, who remains in search of a major domestic trophy in Saudi Arabia.
Since his high-profile move to Al-Nassr in December 2022, Ronaldo’s only silverware has come via the Arab Champions Cup in 2023, a competition regarded as largely ceremonial.
The defeat has sparked further debate among fans and pundits over Ronaldo’s enduring pursuit of success in the Saudi Pro League.
While his scoring record remains impressive, moments such as the failed free-kick have reignited discussion over whether age is beginning to blunt his once-fearsome precision from set pieces.
Nevertheless, despite that, his global popularity shows no sign of waning.
Only last week, Ronaldo was seen in high spirits during Al-Nassr’s 5-1 thrashing of Al-Fateh, a match that extended their lead at the top of the league.
Ronaldo thought he was gonna score a last-minute free kick like Messi did with Inter Miami🤣
— M_ (@Goat10M30) October 28, 2025
Bismillah😭😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/tNNfIGvKiz
After full-time, he was filmed playfully instructing YouTube sensation IShowSpeed, a 20-year-old American streamer and long-time Ronaldo devotee, on how to perform the Viking clap celebration alongside Al-Nassr’s supporters.
Speed, whose 45 million followers have helped turn his admiration for Ronaldo into a worldwide phenomenon, initially struggled to master the chant, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Ronaldo, grinning, gestured the rhythm from the edge of the pitch, guiding the young streamer through the routine as fans joined in.
The light-hearted exchange went viral, further demonstrating the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s lasting influence beyond the pitch.
For Ronaldo, whose career has spanned over two decades of remarkable achievements, Tuesday’s setback will be another test of resilience.
But he'll likely turn it into motivation as he chases the first major trophy of his Middle Eastern adventure.