There was neither the championship trophy nor the silver medal. Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al Nassr) was once again at the center of a 'no-show' controversy.
Al Nassr lost 0-1 to Gamba Osaka (Japan) in the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) final held at Al Awal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the 17th (Korean time).
The opening goal conceded to Deniz Hummet in the 30th minute of the first half remained the deciding goal. The final was held at home. Despite Al Nassr featuring Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, João Félix and Kingsley Coman, they ultimately could not break through the Japanese J.League team's defense.
Al Nassr controlled the flow of the game more. Mané hit the side netting with a shot in the first half, and in the second half Félix's long-range shot hit the post. In the final moments, a sequence led by Ronaldo's back-heel pass was blocked as Gamba Osaka defender Kishimoto Takeru threw his body to stop it. At every decisive moment, Gamba Osaka's 18-year-old goalkeeper Rui Araki and the defensive line held firm.
A bigger story than the defeat came after the match. Ronaldo headed straight for the tunnel as soon as the final whistle blew. Al Nassr players, including coach Jorge Jesus, went up to the podium to receive runners-up medals, but Ronaldo was nowhere to be seen. He did not watch Gamba Osaka players' victory celebration, nor did he greet the home fans.
Foreign media did not miss the scene. Some outlets separately highlighted footage of Ronaldo not appearing with his teammates at the official awards ceremony. While it is understandable to be stunned by defeat, the action of a team-leading player and global star skipping the ceremony immediately drew criticism.
What hurts Ronaldo more is the match performance. He started as the central forward and played the full 90 minutes that day. But he did not score. His rating on football statistics site SofaScore was 5.9. Two big-chance misses, three blocked shots, two off-target shots. Those numbers showed why Al Nassr, despite controlling the match, could not overcome Gamba Osaka.
Al Nassr's frustration is also growing. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January 2023 and experienced winning the Arab Club Champions Cup, but a major regular competition title has remained out of reach. This ACL2 final was a chance to lift a major trophy since joining the Saudi stage, but they were stopped at home by a Japanese team.
For Korean fans, it is a familiar yet uncomfortable scene. Ronaldo caused the 'Sangam no-show' controversy in 2019 when he did not play a single minute for Juventus at the K League All-Star match held at Seoul World Cup Stadium. At the time, fans came to the stadium to see the global star, but Ronaldo remained on the bench. Seven years later, the word 'no-show' was again attached to his name.
Of course the season is not over yet. Al Nassr leads second-place Al Hilal (81 points) with 83 points in the Saudi Pro League. If they beat Damac in the final match on the 22nd, they can win the title outright. For Ronaldo, the last chance to lift the most important league trophy since joining Al Nassr remains.
But this final defeat and absence from the awards ceremony are scenes that will not be easily erased. It is natural for a superstar to feel the pain of defeat. But even in defeat there is a place to uphold. The captain who disappeared after the final defeat. Another no-show that recalled Sangam seven years ago.<
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