Ivan Toney Aims Dig at Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr After Al-Ahli’s Saudi Super Cup Triumph

Al-Ahli striker, Ivan Toney has stirred fresh drama in Saudi football after his side’s thrilling victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the Saudi Super Cup final at the Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday.

The Englishman, who played a key role in Al-Ahli’s charge, used his post-match remarks to take a swipe at both Al-Nassr and tournament organizers. “They tried everything, changed the referee, but it didn’t matter,” Toney said, in what many interpreted as a pointed dig at Ronaldo’s star-studded team and the perceived favoritism surrounding them.

Al-Ahli defeated Al-Nassr in a tense final that ended 2–2 in regulation time before being decided by a penalty shootout. Ronaldo had put Al-Nassr ahead with a first-half penalty—his 100th goal for the club—but Franck Kessié leveled for Al-Ahli just before the break. Marcelo Brozović restored Al-Nassr’s advantage late in the game, only for Roger Ibáñez to snatch a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time.

The game went to penalties, where Al-Ahli held their nerve with a flawless set of strikes, while goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made the decisive save to secure a 5–3 shootout win. It marked Al-Ahli’s second Saudi Super Cup title and their first since 2016.

Toney’s criticism wasn’t entirely new. Even before the final, he had voiced frustration about Al-Ahli’s treatment in Hong Kong, complaining about poor training conditions and scheduling disadvantages. He claimed his team had been forced to use substandard pitches and train after other sides, branding the experience “crazy” and suggesting that Al-Ahli were “the most hated team, the one nobody wanted to win.”

Ronaldo, despite reaching his milestone, cut a frustrated figure at full-time as Al-Nassr once again fell short on the big stage. His influence remains undeniable, but the night belonged to Al-Ahli, whose resilience against the odds has sparked celebration among their supporters and further ignited the rivalry with Al-Nassr.

The fallout from Toney’s remarks is expected to reverberate across Saudi football, as his claims of bias strike at the credibility of tournament organization. For now, however, Al-Ahli can bask in their hard-fought triumph while Al-Nassr and Ronaldo are left to regroup.