The fates of Ronaldo and Neymar in the 2023/24 season were unexpectedly contrasting.

When the penalty shootout in the King’s Cup final between Al Nassr and Al Hilal ended, Ronaldo burst into tears. The Portuguese superstar was extremely bitter as he had to conclude the 2023/24 season without any titles.

Ronaldo did not play poorly in this match. Unfortunately, a goal eluded CR7. Across all competitions, the Portuguese superstar scored 44 goals in 45 appearances. Yet, the outcome he received was nothing but sheer bitterness.

Al Hilal truly haunted Ronaldo. Specifically, Al Hilal won 3 matches and remained undefeated in 4 encounters against Al Nassr. This thwarted CR7’s chances of winning the Saudi Pro League, Super Cup, and King’s Cup, all against this team. Ronaldo couldn’t find the net in any of the 4 matches against Al Hilal in the 2023/24 season.

Al Hilal goalkeeper Bono emerged as the hero by making crucial saves in the penalty shootout. Notably, Bono also excelled in the 2022 World Cup with the Moroccan national team, knocking out Ronaldo’s Portugal in the quarter-finals.

Contrasting Ronaldo’s enduring sorrow was Neymar’s joy. The Brazilian forward didn’t play in this match but watched Al Hilal’s performance from the stands. However, Neymar still enjoyed the championship celebration.

As the match concluded, Neymar immediately rushed onto the field to celebrate with his teammates. He confidently lifted the trophy despite not playing a single match in the King’s Cup.

Throughout the season, Neymar only appeared in 5 matches due to persistent injuries, and he managed to score just 1 goal. Nevertheless, the 1992-born star unexpectedly achieved a treble.

Many fans mocked Neymar on Twitter, calling him the “great pretender” or the “shameless one” for celebrating fervently despite minimal contributions on the field.