A showdown between top players exposed Ronaldo's true form: missed chances and silence with a 5.8 rating; Al-Nassr's winning streak halted and title hopes fading.

At 40 years old, Ronaldo is in the twilight of his career. His stats show plenty of goals, but the truth is different. If he doesn't score in a game, he typically receives the lowest rating afterward. Labels like "Middle East's Best Player" are more of a facade, tied to marketing value. This ultimately harms Ronaldo, Al-Nassr, and Portugal because it makes him focus excessively on personal stats while neglecting the team's overall tactics. A high-level clash in the Saudi Pro League was enough to reveal Ronaldo's true nature.

In the 13th round of the Saudi Pro League, last season's AFC Champions League winner Al-Ittihad hosted Al-Nassr, where Ronaldo has yet to win a trophy. Al-Ittihad fielded a weakened squad, missing several stars such as goalkeeper Mendy, defender Ibanez, midfielder Kessié, and forward Mahrez. Despite this, Ronaldo-led Al-Nassr lost 2-3 away, suffering their first league defeat of the season and ending their winning streak. They conceded 5 goals in two matches and now lead Al-Hilal by just 2 points with one game in hand. It looks like Al-Nassr will lose their top spot after this round, making the title race difficult. Ronaldo's breakthrough for a championship with Al-Nassr seems unlikely, possibly relying instead on the secondary AFC competitions, which are a step down in challenge.

Perhaps comparison brings pain: former Premier League bronze boot winner Toni scored twice and assisted once, creating three goals and earning a perfect 10 rating. Ronaldo, however, lost a key chance by mishandling a pass and was silent on the pitch, receiving a failing 5.8 rating. The second half of the match was interesting; whenever Al-Nassr attacked inside Al-Ittihad's box and there was some contact, they immediately appealed for penalties. The Saudi Pro League seems to have spoiled players’ habits, which could be a disadvantage on the international stage.