Al Nassr will be without their marquee player, Cristiano Ronaldo against Al Riyadh on 2 February2026, with reports confirming his absence is unrelated to injury or workload issues.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Image credits : X)
Al Nassr are set to face Al Riyadh in a Saudi Pro League match on February 2, 2026, but they will do so without their star forward Cristiano Ronaldo. According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Ronaldo will not be part of the squad for this match. Importantly, his absence is not due to injury, fitness issues, or workload management. Romano confirmed that Ronaldo is fully fit and available, but for reasons unrelated to footballing concerns, he will sit out the clash. The Portuguese superstar is, however, expected to return for Al Nassr’s next league match against Al Ittihad later in the week.
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: CRISITANO RONALDO IS NOT IN THE AL-NASSR SQUAD TODAY EVEN THOUGH HE'S FIT. ❌🇵🇹
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) February 2, 2026
He's refusing to play because he's unhappy with how the Saudi's are running the league and he's upset with the management of Al-Nassr's rivals. pic.twitter.com/xfKtZt5S9E
Al Nassr currently sit second in the Saudi Pro League table, just three points behind leaders Al Hilal. A win against Al Riyadh could help them close the gap at the top, making Ronaldo’s absence a significant talking point. The 39-year-old is Al Nassr’s top scorer this season, and his presence has played a key role in keeping the title race alive. Ronaldo featured in Al Nassr’s most recent league match, a 3–0 victory over Al Kholood on Friday. He opened the scoring in that game and was substituted in the 79th minute. There were no signs of discomfort or injury during the match, further confirming that his absence against Al Riyadh is not health-related.
Cristiano Ronaldo's entire career has been a war against "The System."
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) February 1, 2026
He could have played the FIFA/Ballon d’Or politics like Messi to be their "perfect boy." Instead, he let his numbers do the talking and publicly called out the lack of credibility when narratives replaced… pic.twitter.com/H2DDouNLl5
Reports from Portuguese outlet A Bola have shed light on the possible reason behind Ronaldo’s decision not to play. According to the report, Ronaldo is unhappy with how Al Nassr is being managed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) when compared to other clubs under the same ownership. The report claims that Ronaldo feels Al Nassr is not receiving the same level of support or attention as rival clubs such as Al Hilal, who are also owned by PIF. This perceived difference in treatment has reportedly caused frustration for Ronaldo, leading to his decision to sit out the match against Al Riyadh.
While Al Nassr have not released an official statement explaining Ronaldo’s absence, sources insist that the situation is not expected to escalate. Ronaldo is set to return for the high-profile clash against Al Ittihad, a match that could have major implications for the title race.For now, Al Nassr will have to rely on the rest of their squad to secure three points away from home. Even without Ronaldo, the team remains strong, but his absence highlights growing tensions behind the scenes as the season enters a crucial phase.
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