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New Delhi: Cristiano Ronaldo refused to collect his runners-up medal after Al-Nassr’s defeat against Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final on Saturday. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr lost 1-0 to Osaka in the final, missing out on silverware. An unhappy Ronaldo walked straight to the tunnel after the game and was nowhere to be seen during the medal ceremony.

Deniz Hommet scored the decisive goal in the 29th minute, which proved enough for Gamba Osaka to prevail in the high-intense final and clinch the AFC Champions League Two title. Al Nassr’s defeat meant Ronaldo’s wait for his first major title at the club continued.

Following the final whistle, Ronaldo was seen walking away from his teammates and heading towards the tunnel. He later didn’t arrive for the medal ceremony, where the Al-Nassr players were led by head coach Jorge Jesus. The clips of Ronaldo snubbing the medal ceremony went viral on social media.

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كرستيانو رونالدو بعد خسارة البطولة الآسيوية pic.twitter.com/BLXSC2CPUS

— علي العنزي (@Ali_alabdallh)

😮 Cristiano Ronaldo seramoniye katılmadı!

🏅 Jorge Jesus ve Al Nassr oyuncuları madalyalarını almak için sahaya çıktı. Ancak Cristiano Ronaldo seremonide yer almadı. pic.twitter.com/n5ec3NPP31

— D-Smart Spor (@SporSmart_)

Al Nassr were arguably the more dominant side in the final, but missed close chances to suffer a 1-0 defeat against Gamba Osaka. Osaka’s 18-year-old goalkeeper Rui Araki produced an impressive show to deny Al-Nassr forwards on several occasions in the first half of the game. He pulled off a great save to deny Abdulrahman Ghareeb in the seventh minute before Sadio Mane missed a close chance.

Ronaldo came close to equalising for Al-Nassr after Gamba Osaka took the lead, but his header went wide. Al-Nassr retained pressure by dominating possession in the second half and creating multiple chances, but failed to convert them as Gamba Osaka held their nerves to secure a thrilling win.

Despite their loss against Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League two final, Al-Nassr still have a chance to end the year with a domestic title as they are currently on top of the Saudi Pro League standings. Al-Nassr are closing in on their maiden Saudi Pro League triumph, which will also mark Ronaldo’s first major trophy at the club since arriving in 2023.