In a surprising development that has worried Al-Nassr fans, reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, a specialist in player transfer news, revealed that Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo will miss his team's upcoming match against Al-Riyadh. Romano confirmed via his official X account that this absence is not due to physical reasons or rest as part of a player rotation policy, opening the door to speculation about the real reason behind this decision, which has disrupted the team's plans before the crucial match.
General context and Ronaldo's impact on Saudi football
This absence comes at a crucial point in the season and underscores Ronaldo's pivotal importance to the Saudi football project. Since his sensational move to Al-Nassr in late 2012, "CR7's" impact has extended far beyond scoring decisive goals; he has become the most prominent media figure in the Saudi Professional League globally. His presence has attracted a host of international stars to the Kingdom and raised the level of competition and fan engagement to unprecedented heights, making any absence of him an event followed by millions around the world.
The importance of the match in the title race
Ronaldo's absence is doubly significant given Al-Nassr's position in the league standings. Before this match, the "Global" team sits in second place with 43 points, fiercely chasing their arch-rivals Al-Hilal, who lead by three points. With the title race intensifying, every match and every point is crucial, and the absence of the team's top scorer presents a major challenge for coach Luis Castro and his teammates.
Exceptional numbers this season
Despite being 38 years old, Ronaldo continues to deliver exceptional performances this season. Prior to this match, the Portuguese star had participated in 22 games across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and providing 3 assists for his teammates, accumulating a total of 1917 minutes of playing time. These impressive statistics underscore his role as a true leader on the pitch, making his absence a significant challenge for the team.
Al-Riyadh is scheduled to host Al-Nassr this evening, Monday, at 6:15 PM, in the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League. Attention will now be focused not only on the match result but also on uncovering the true reasons behind Ronaldo's absence, a mystery that the Saudi and international sports community awaits a clear answer to in the coming hours.
