Ronaldo’s Night of Misses and Controversy: From a Saudi Penalty Slip to a Portugal Suspension

It was the kind of evening no veteran forward wants to remember. When Al Nassr faced Neom in the Saudi Pro League on Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, stepped up to the spot‑kick at the break and, to the disbelief of the travelling fans, sent the ball wide of the right‑hand post. The miss came moments after João Félix had been fouled inside the box, a chance that could have nudged Ronaldo a little closer to his self‑set milestone of 1,000 career goals.

Things only got worse. Ten minutes later, Sadio Mané floated a ball into the six‑yard box, and Ronaldo, supposedly the world’s most clinical finisher, thumped it over the bar. The Expected Goals (xG) value for that opportunity was a lofty 0.83 – practically a certainty – yet the five‑time Ballon d’Or winner walked off with nothing to show for six attempts, not a single shot finding the net.

Al Nassr still managed a 1‑0 win, thanks to a second‑half strike from Félix, and the Saudi side remain third in the league after nine games. But the statistical sheet tells a different story for Ronaldo: six shots, zero on target, ten touches inside the opposition box, and two big chances missed. (Source: FotMob.)

Off the pitch, the night mirrored the on‑field disappointment. Earlier in the week, the Portuguese Football Federation handed Ronaldo a provisional 30‑day suspension and a modest €255 fine after he walked out of the national team camp amid a dispute with manager Jorge Jesus. The ban is back‑dated, meaning Ronaldo could rejoin the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, but the episode has reignited questions about his future role under a revolving door of coaches.

Adding fuel to the fire, former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag opened up about his experience with the Portuguese star in a candid interview with The Athletic. Ten Hag, who watched Ronaldo leave United on sour terms in 2022, accused the forward of shunning the level of training required and even urging teammates to “save their legs” during sessions. “He let the team down, and he let me down,” the Dutchman said, emphasizing that elite players must earn their place on the pitch by putting in the work both in possession and without the ball.

These criticisms arrive as Messi’s emotional farewell to Argentina captured global headlines, starkly contrasting Ronaldo’s own turbulent narrative. While the legend’s personal goal tally is likely to keep climbing toward that 1,000‑goal mark, the short‑term outlook for his international career remains hazy, with managers still figuring out how to integrate an aging superstar without compromising team cohesion.

For now, Ronaldo returns to Saudi Arabia with a bruised ego and a renewed spotlight on his training habits. Whether he can shake off the criticism, rediscover his finishing touch, and smooth over his relationship with Portugal’s hierarchy will be the storyline to watch in the weeks ahead.