{"id":12185,"date":"2026-05-24T17:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T17:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12185"},"modified":"2026-05-24T17:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T17:01:12","slug":"cristiano-ronaldo-embarrassed-as-saudi-pro-league-honour-given-to-chelsea-flop-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12185","title":{"rendered":"Cristiano Ronaldo embarrassed as Saudi Pro League honour given to Chelsea flop"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1c1e1b\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the Saudi Pro League title this season, but he has missed out on an individual honour to one of his team-mates<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37197192\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cristiano Ronaldo poses with the trophy after winning the Saudi Pro League title\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37197192.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2276952474.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37197192.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2276952474.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37197192.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2276952474.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37197192.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2276952474.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Cristiano Ronaldo missed out on Saudi Pro League player of the season\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Cristiano Ronaldo missed out on Saudi Pro League player of the season<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Saudi Pro League have announced Joao Felix as their player of the season ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. Captains and coaches of the league&#8217;s 18 teams made up the majority of the vote, with fans and media members also contributing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ronaldo is among the captains whose selections accounted for 40 per cent of the vote, weighted equally with their head coaches. Eighteen journalists also had their say, accounting for 15 per cent, while fans contributed the remaining five per cent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ivan Toney, Julian Quinones and Ruben Neves were also nominees. Voting closed on Monday, before the final round of matches.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_9d2dcd\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Cristiano Ronaldo breaks down in tears as Al-Nassr finally win Saudi Pro League title<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_9d2dcd\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Inside Ivan Toney&#8217;s huge row with Cristiano Ronaldo and shock England return<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ronaldo scored twice on the final day to take his goal total to 28 as Al-Nassr won 4-1 against Damac to clinch the league title. Felix set up Sadio Mane for their opener for his 13th assist of the season, more than anyone else.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In his debut campaign after signing from Chelsea, where he unfortunately flopped, the forward also scored 20 times. Only four others managed more, with Ronaldo one of those as the third top goalscorer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Golden Boot went to Julian Quinones for his 33 goals after a final-day hat-trick. Ivan Toney finished one strike short after going scoreless in Al-Ahli&#8217;s last match.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-35668854\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"35668854\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.52\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Joao Felix\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35668854.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Crystal-Palace-FC-v-Chelsea-FC-Premier-League.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35668854.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Crystal-Palace-FC-v-Chelsea-FC-Premier-League.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35668854.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Crystal-Palace-FC-v-Chelsea-FC-Premier-League.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35668854.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Crystal-Palace-FC-v-Chelsea-FC-Premier-League.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Joao Felix flopped at Chelsea before joining Al-Nassrr\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Joao Felix flopped at Chelsea before joining Al-Nassrr<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Felix beat Ronaldo in combined goals and assists, with 33. That tops his team-mate&#8217;s 30 after the 41-year-old managed just two assists.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Toney, however, leads the league in that respect with seven assists, adding the last on the final day. That took him to 39, two ahead of Quinones on 37.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Away from the stats, Felix was the only individual to win multiple player of the month awards, doing so in September and then again in May. Ronaldo did not win one, with Kostas Fortounis (October), Georginio Wijnaldum (November), Toney (January), Yannick Carrasco (February) and Valentin Vada (April) the other winners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<\/strong> <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"\/><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football&#8217;s Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ronaldo&#8217;s last player of the month honour came in May 2024, which was his fifth of that first full season in the league. However, the league did not hand out that season-long award after that campaign, and Karim Benzema won it last term, so Ronaldo has yet to win it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This season, Felix also has nine player of the match awards from his 33 appearances. He paid tribute to coach Jorge Jesus after the team&#8217;s title win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said of the former Al Hilal boss: &#8220;Playing football makes me happy; playing my position. The coach gave me so much confidence. &#8220;He put me to play to command the team, to help the team, be one of the focuses of the team, and I think when that happens, the things goes well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside <!-- -->Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jesus also won the coach of the season award and singled out Ronaldo after their triumph. He said: &#8220;This is a victory for everyone, and especially for Cristiano, because he had not yet won any title in Saudi Arabia.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The coach also confirmed he is leaving the club, saying: &#8220;I only accepted this challenge because I told him that I would help him to be champion: &#8216;let&#8217;s win the title and then I&#8217;ll leave,&#8217; which is the case. For me, it&#8217;s over, it&#8217;s the last game I&#8217;ll play with Al Nassr.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><em>Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the Saudi Pro League title this season, but he has&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12186,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12185"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12185\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}