Cristiano Ronaldo could face a two-game ban after getting his first red card in Saudi Arabia. The incident happened during Al-Nassr’s 2-1 loss to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup semifinals.
The five-time Ballon D’Or winner, who joined Al-Nassr in December 2022, was sent off in the 86th minute for elbowing Al-Hilal defender Ali Al-Bulaihi. Reports suggest the 39-year-old may receive additional punishment for appearing to mock the referee as he left the field on Monday in Abu Dhabi.
Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus praised Ronaldo but noted his frustration with defeat, saying it’s natural for him to lose focus in such situations.
At the time of Ronaldo’s dismissal, Al-Nassr was trailing 2-0 after goals from Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom. Sadio Mané scored a late goal for Al-Nassr, but Al-Hilal held on for the win.
The tournament format was expanded in 2023, and this year, the final will feature Al-Hilal against Al-Ittihad.
While this was Ronaldo’s first red card, he previously received a one-game suspension in February for making an alleged offensive gesture during a Saudi Pro League game against Al-Shabab.
Ronaldo is currently leading the league’s scoring charts with 29 goals, seven more than Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Al-Nassr is in second place in the SPL, trailing Al-Hilal by 12 points with seven games remaining.
