'Checkmate', rival takes a dig at Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr suffered a huge blow to their hopes of winning the Saudi Professional League after a goalless draw with lowly Al-Feiha, and Cristiano Ronaldo left the pitch in anger after a frustrating performance on Sunday.

Leaders Al Ittihad did not waste the opportunity to widen the gap with Al Nassr to three points with the last seven games remaining, with a victory 2-1 against Al Wehda. Al Ittihad had an advantage also in a head-to-head result with Al Nassr.

Ronaldo, 38, who joined Al Nassr in January, hit a ball into the hands of keeper Vladimir Stojkovic, who kissed the ball in the 68th.

Stojkovic seemed to cast a spell on the ball as the Portugal captain fired twice over the bar in the space of six minutes, and Brazilian Anderson Talisca, the league’s top scorer, was ineffective also.

Ronaldo appeared furious while leaving the pitch after his goal tally stopped at 11 goals in 10 league games, and he took off the captain armband and left it in his hand.

Al Nassr, who won the title for the last time in 2019, will play a crucial game next week against Al Hilal, the defending champions and fourth in the standings, which may determine the race for the title.

Al-Feiha posted on Twitter an edited image of their captain Sami Al-Khaibari sitting in front of Ronaldo at a chess table, reflecting a famous advertisement featuring rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano.