Cristiano Ronaldo sends message to Al-Nassr fans after missing injury time penalty as they suffer King's Cup elimination

Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo skied an injury time penalty as the Knights of Najd crashed out of the King's Cup in the Round of 16 on Tuesday (October 29) following a 1-0 home loss to Al-Taawoun.

After a goalless first half at Mrsool Park, where Talisca squandered an early scoring opportunity, Waleed Al-Ahmed broke the deadlock 19 minutes from time, a strike that would turn out to be the only goal of the game.

Ronaldo, who had come close to opening the scoring in the first half with a free-kick, had his moment in the game when Al-Ahmed fouled Mohammed Maran inside the box deep in injury time.

Up stepped the Portuguese for the 96th-minute penalty, but he sent his effort horribly over as Al-Taawoun heaved a huge sigh of relief, hanging on to their lead to reach the quarter-final. Following the game, Ronaldo tweeted:

"Every challenge is an opportunity to grow."

Ronaldo's scoreless outing marked the fourth time in 12 games across competitions this season that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner failed to find the back of the net.

The 39-year-old has nine goals and three assists this season. Most of those goal contributions - six goals and two assists in seven games - have come in the Saudi Pro League, where Stefano Pioli's side are third after eight games, six points behind runaway leaders Al-Hilal (24).

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What's next for Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr?

Al-Nassr take on Al-Hilal next.

The defeat to Al-Taawoun at home snapped Al-Nassr's 12-game unbeaten run across competitions - winning eight. However, there's little time to dwell on the loss, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. run into defending Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal next.

Having finished behind the unbeaten champions last season, the Knights of Najd will look to become the first team to take points off Al-Hilal when they lock horns on Friday (November 1) at Mrsool Park in the Saudi capital.

Following his penalty miss on Tuesday in his team's King's Cup elimination, Ronaldo will look to deliver a big performance against Al-Za'eem, who have once again been the standout team in the top flight. Al-Hilal have won their opening eight league games, scoring 23 times and conceding six.

It's pertinent to note that Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. are the only other unbeaten team in the league, winning five of eight games and scoring 19 goals, with their captain accounting for six of them.