Legendary football player Cristiano Ronaldo was left completely devastated when his Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr fell to rivals Al-Hilal in the King’s Cup final on Friday. After the match went into penalties because of a close match, Ronaldo scored a beautiful bicycle kick that struck the post, leaving the score at 1-1 after normal time. Ronaldo was distraught and upset after Al-Hilal won 5–4 on penalties after there was no way to decide a winner during extra time. Ronaldo’s feelings demonstrated that, for him, the Saudi Arabian experience was much more than just a “retirement league or competition,” despite what other players might perceive.

As Al Nassr lost the match on penalties, Ronaldo sunk to the turf and was inconsolable as teammates and coaching staff tried to lift his spirits. Officials and teammates off the field accompanied the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, as he sat on the bench with the runners-up medal around his neck.

Aleksander Mitrovic, a forward from Serbia, gave Al Hilal the lead in the seventh minute, but Ayman Yahya of Al Nassr tied the score late in the 88th. Since goalie David Ospina was sent off in the 56th minute, Ronaldo’s team had found it difficult to find an equalizer.

Al Nassr continued to put pressure on Al Hilal following Ospina’s dismissal. The referee sent off Al Hilal’s center backs, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ali Al-Bulaihi, just prior to the ninety-minute mark.

The fact that goalkeeper Yassine Bonou’s heroics kept the scores tied the entire extra time gave Al-Nassr the opportunity to find a winner. In the shootout, Bonou excelled once more, stopping the last two penalties from Ronaldo’s team. Despite missing their key forward Neymar Jr. because of an injury, Al-Nassr emerged victorious.