Ronaldo’s penalty miss stalls his Golden Boot push as Al Nassr edge Neom
Al Nassr hold on for a 1-0 victory despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s wasted chances
At Al Awwal Park, Al Nassr secured a narrow win over Neom, but the Portuguese legend could not add to his league tally. A penalty just before the break presented a golden opportunity for Ronaldo to move up the Saudi Pro League scoring chart, yet his effort drifted wide of the left post.
Match timeline
The dead‑lock was broken in the 61st minute when Joao Felix, the Portuguese midfielder, struck a right‑footed shot from outside the area that slipped past the Neom keeper, giving Al Nassr a 1‑0 lead. Six minutes later, Alexandre Lacazette’s header rattled the post, narrowly missing an equaliser for the visitors.
Ronaldo’s misfortune began in first‑half stoppage time. After Al Dossary fouled Joao Felix inside the box, the referee pointed to the spot following a VAR check. The captain stepped up for the spot‑kick, aiming for his 982nd career goal, but his strike went wide. The drama continued after the interval when a cross found Ronaldo’s head; his subsequent volley from a few metres out sailed over the open net. He tried again in the 74th minute, firing a shot that drifted just outside the frame.
Impact on the Golden Boot race
Ronaldo entered the match with four league goals, trailing the current leader, Ivan Toney of Al Ahli, who sits on eleven goals after eight games. The missed penalty was a chance to close the gap, as a successful conversion would have taken Ronaldo to five goals.
While Ronaldo faltered, several of his rivals made the most of their opportunities. Youssef En‑Nesyri of Al Ittihad netted a brace in a 4‑1 win over Al Ettifaq, lifting his tally to seven and moving him into second place. His teammate George Ilenikhena also found the net, bringing his total to five.
At Al Qadsiah, Tijjani Reijnders scored a stoppage‑time winner against Al Taawoun, reaching five goals and helping his side climb to the top of the table.
Ivan Toney, who currently leads the scoring chart, is sidelined with a hip injury sustained in training. The English striker missed Al Ahli’s recent trip to Al Fayha, and no return date has been announced, opening a window for other forwards to narrow the margin.
League standing and upcoming fixtures
The win keeps Al Nassr in third place, holding 22 points after nine matches. Their next challenge comes on 23 October when they travel to face Al Faisaly.
- Al Nassr: 3rd, 22 points (9 games)
- Ivan Toney (Al Ahli): 11 goals, currently injured
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr): 4 goals, outside top‑10
- Youssef En‑Nesyri (Al Ittihad): 7 goals
- George Ilenikhena (Al Ittihad): 5 goals
- Tijjani Reijnders (Al Qadsiah): 5 goals
Ronaldo’s night may have been unlucky, but his team still walked away with three points. The Portuguese star will need to convert more chances in the coming weeks if he hopes to keep his Golden Boot ambitions alive.
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