Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr were eliminated from the AFC Champions League

FFootball star Cristiano Ronaldo must bury his hopes of winning the AFC Champions League. The Portuguese failed with his Saudi club Al-Nasr in the quarter-finals against Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates.

After a 1-0 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Ronaldo saved his team from a penalty shootout in the second leg in Riyadh with a late penalty goal in extra time. There, the 39-year-old was the only player in his team to score a penalty. However, three of his teammates were absent.

Also, the chance of Al-Nasr and Ronaldo to win the title in the Saudi League is slim, as the difference with the league leader, Al-Hilal, is already twelve points. This means that the only realistic chance for five-time international footballer Ronaldo this season is the national cup. The Riyadh team reached the semi-finals.

Suspension in the league

Ronaldo was recently suspended for one match in the Saudi Professional League after a gesture deemed obscene. Videos circulating online showed the 39-year-old Portuguese player apparently pointing towards rival fans and making hand movements in the lower back area after his team’s 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab. Before that, he had briefly put his hand to his ear.

Shouts of “Messi” can be heard in videos from the stands. Lionel Messi is Ronaldo's long-time rival, especially when it comes to individual achievement awards.