Al-Nassr's head coach subtly pointed out that the team's issue lies with Cristiano Ronaldo’s poor form and his insistence on taking free kicks.

In the 16th round of the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr managed a tight 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab, with Ronaldo starting and playing the entire game but remaining ineffective. This win ended a four-game winless run in the league, during which they lost 11 points, essentially losing their chance at the championship. Al-Nassr still sits 7 points behind Al-Hilal in the league table.

After the match, Al-Nassr’s coach Jesus attended the press conference and commented: securing three points at home was crucial for the team, breaking their four-game winless streak in the league.Ronaldo’s recent form has indeed been poor, and there is hope that he can improve his free-kick ability.

As Ronaldo enters his fourth season with Al-Nassr, the team has lost the title every year. Internally, they already recognize the problem: it’s Ronaldo. Although the Portuguese star seems prolific, the team’s strategy revolves around feeding him chances and sacrificing collective attacking flow. Ronaldo monopolizes all free-kick duties, yet in 2025 he hasn’t scored a single free kick. Technically, the free-kick taker should be changed, but Ronaldo’s superstar status makes it difficult for the coaching staff and locker room to speak up.

Coach Jesus expressed his helplessness and put it delicately: Ronaldo’s current form and age make him unsuitable for starting in a professional league, and his technique isn’t sharp enough for free-kick duties. At nearly 41 years old, expecting him to improve his free-kick skills is unrealistic. This was a subtle way of suggesting a step back. It now depends on Ronaldo’s decision—whether to request a month’s rest or continue scoring at the cost of the team. We will wait and see!