Al Nassr will visit Al Okhdood on Monday for Matchday 31 of the 2024–25 Saudi Pro League season. However, fans were surprised when the squad list was released and Cristiano Ronaldo was not included, raising concerns about his fitness and availability for the final stretch of the season.
The game comes just five days after Al Nassr’s 3–2 loss to Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad—a result that effectively ended their title hopes. With little left to play for in terms of domestic silverware, head coach Stefano Pioli has made strategic decisions regarding his veteran stars.
Cristiano Ronaldo will sit out Monday’s match and remain at home, with Al Nassr set to face the 17th-place side in the league. Al Okhdood are battling relegation, and Pioli is prioritizing Ronaldo’s recovery for the final four matches of the campaign, where international qualification is still on the line.
According to Saudi media personality Ali Alabdallh, Ronaldo did not train with the rest of the squad over the weekend. On Saturday, he reportedly spent his day between the medical clinic and the gym, further signaling the club’s decision to manage his workload carefully.
Ronaldo isn’t the only notable absence. French defender Mohamed Simakan, who has featured in 37 matches this season, was also left out of the squad to recover. Pioli appears to be preserving key players for more decisive games to come.
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Al Nassr’s uphill battle for AFC Champions League qualification
Back-to-back losses—first to Kawasaki Frontale in the AFC Champions League and then to Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League—have derailed Al Nassr’s pursuit of silverware this season. But the team still has one vital goal: securing international competition for 2025–26.
Only three Saudi clubs will qualify for the upcoming edition of the AFC Champions League Elite. Currently sitting fifth in the table, Al Nassr face a steep climb. With Al Ahli securing one of the slots by winning the current tournament, Ronaldo’s side must now reach second place to qualify.
That position is currently held by Al Hilal, who have 68 points—eight more than Al Nassr. With four games remaining, the pressure is on Pioli’s squad to finish strong and avoid ending the season without a major achievement.
Al Nassr faces Al Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League 2024-25 on Monday at the Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City in Najran.
The Riyadh-based side is placed in fifth place on the points table and has 60 points from 30 matches. It lost its previous league stage match against table-topper Al Ittihad 2-3.
Why is Ronaldo not in Al Nassr squad against Al Akhdoud?
Skipper Cristiano Ronaldo was not named in Al Nassr’s matchday squad for its Saudi Pro League fixture against Al Akhdoud.
Media reports suggest that head coach Stefano Pioli possibly kept the Portuguese forward out of the squad because of physical exhaustion.
The former Real Madrid striker is coming off of consecutive losses with his side – against Ittihad and Japanese side Kawasaki – where he played out the entirety of those two matches.
The last time he was substituted off before the full time whistle was during the side’s win against Yokohama FM in the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals.
Moreover, Al Nassr being out of Saudi Pro League title contention could be a reason for Ronaldo being rested.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s son, Cristiano Jr., has been called up for Portugal’s under-15 side for the upcoming Vlatko Markovic Tournament. The competition will take place from May 13 to May 18. Greece, Japan, and England are the other teams taking part in the competition.
The youngster is currently a part of Al-Nassr’s youth academy. He has also represented teams like Juventus and Real Madrid at the youth level. Now, Ronaldo Jr. is set to take a bigger step in his career and represent Portugal at the international level.
He has joined the under-15 side’s training and Ronaldo Jr was spotted wearing his father’s famous CR7 mercurials and and Kylian Mbappe’s signature NIKE boots in training.
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. training for Portugal in the iconic CR7 Mercurials and Kylian Mbappé’s new signature boots by NIKE. ✔️ pic.twitter.com/s7n7ZZz25q
Kylian Mbappe wears the NIKE Mercurial Superfly boots, which are violet in color with a green swoosh. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has worn the Mercurial series throughout his career. The model used by his son looks like the one he used during the 2016-17 season. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner notably scored a brace against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League final that season using those boots.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, is currently at Al-Nassr. Despite his age, the superstar forward continues to perform at a very high level. This season, he has scored 33 goals and provided four assists in 39 appearances across competitions for the Saudi Pro League club.
IMAGO / Abdullah Ahmed
Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, scored a hat-trick against Barcelona on May 11. He became the Real Madrid player with the most goals in his first season at the club and has netted 39 times. He surpasses Ivan Zamorano’s tally of 37.
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr is already training with Portugal under-15 squad
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr trained with Portugal’s Under-15 squad on Sunday, May 11, 2025, after being called up to the team for the first time.
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. has been called up to Portugal’s Under-15 national team.
The 14-year-old forward currently plays for Al-Nassr’s youth academy.
Ronaldo Jr. previously played for the youth academies of Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United.
He is eligible to play for Portugal, the United States, and Spain.
The next chapter of the Cristiano Ronaldo legacy has begun after Cristiano Jr received his first call-up to Portugal’s Under-15 squad, marking the start of what could become soccer’s most compelling father-son succession story.
The 14-year-old forward, currently developing at Al-Nassr’s youth academy in Saudi Arabia, has already joined Portugal and is training for a tournament in Croatia this month, facing Japan, Greece and England in his first taste of international football.
“Proud of you, son,” wrote 40-year-old Portugal captain Ronaldo on social media, sharing the squad announcement.
The five-times Ballon d’Or winner, who led Portugal to the 2016 European Championship title, has scored a world record 136 goals in 219 internationals and will watch with parental pride as his eldest son looks to tread a similar path.
Ronaldo Jr has already followed in his father’s footsteps at club level, having played in the youth teams of the Portugal great’s former clubs Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, before moving to Saudi Arabia with his family.
The teenager reportedly netted 58 goals during his stint in Italy, while clips of Ronaldo Jr mimicking his father’s trademark ‘Siu’ celebration at Al-Nassr have gone viral.
In 2022, Ronaldo said his son was eager to one day share the pitch with him. “My son tells me, ‘Dad, hold on a few more years, I want to play with you!’” he revealed at the time.
Despite Ronaldo Jr being born in the United States and spending much of his early childhood in Spain – granting him eligibility for three nations – his call-up by Portugal is likely an indication of his future international allegiance.
For a country whose modern football identity has been shaped by his father’s remarkable two-decade reign, Ronaldo Jr’s inclusion in Portugal’s under-15 squad could be the first step in a generational succession that will capture headlines.
Portugal U15 will play against Japan U15 on May 13, Greece U15 on May 14 and England U15 on May 16.
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be left out the matchday squad for Al-Nassr’s trip to Al-Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League on May 12 due to a “lack of readiness”, according to Al-Riyadh.
The report also states Spain international Aymeric Laporte is rumoured to be closing in on an exit from the club a year before the former Manchester City defender’s contract ends.
The Saudi outlet also claims Laporte, who joined Al-Nassr from City for £23.6m [$31m] in August 2023, has been training alone because of ‘tensions’ with manager Stefano Pioli.
The defender is considering various offers, including one from French side Marseille, who secured UEFA Champions League qualification and at least a top-three place in the France top-flight this month.
Ronaldo’s omission is a concern for Pioli, despite his team having little left to play this season, after bowing out of AFC Champions League campaign courtesy of a 3-2 home loss against J League strugglers Kawasaki in the semi-finals on April 30.
The iconic No.7 was rested from the start in the previous league game at Damac, but he did not directly contribute to a goal in that game or their subsequent 3-2 home defeat against Al-Ittihad.
Despite the Portuguese star going more than three-and-a-half hours without a league goal, he is still the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League this season with 23, followed by Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema on 21.
Al-Ittihad are nine points clear of second-placed Al-Hilal and cannot be caught by fifth-placed Al-Nassr, who are 14 points behind them.
Cristiano Ronaldo told his former Manchester United team-mate Owen Hargreaves at the beginning of the 2007/08 season that he would win the Ballon d’Or that year – and he went on to claim the accolade
Owen Hargreaves was stunned by Cristiano Ronaldo’s early attitude(Image: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo once stunned Owen Hargreaves as he claimed he was “going to win the Ballon d’Or this year” – a moment which kickstarted the Portuguese star’s dominance in football.
Hargreaves spent two years at Manchester United with Ronaldo, winning the Premier League and Champions League titles in his first season with the club. After joining in 2007, the English midfielder spent some time in the gym in pre-season preparing himself for what would be an incredible season at United, which is where he got closer to a young Ronaldo.
During an appearance on the High Performance podcast alongside Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, Hargreaves spoke about his first impressions of the Portuguese superstar, and what Ronaldo – who was just 22 at the time – said that left him in awe.
Hargreaves, 44, said: “I remember Cristiano about where you are on the mat [points at Jake Humphrey], and he wasn’t Cristiano, that Cristiano yet. And he was doing these crazy sit-ups with this medicine ball, coming up and then throwing it, and I was watching him and then he said, ‘I’m going to win the Ballon d’Or this year.’
“And he did at the end of the season – but this was pre-season in the gym, nobody could see [it].”
Hargreaves was taken aback by the young winger, as Ronaldo’s serious period of dominance in football hadn’t really begun yet. However, this straightforward and dedicated attitude was a marker for how the five-time Champions League winner would take on the rest of his glittering career in the sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo knew he would become a legend of the sport from the very start(Image: MN Chan/Getty Images)
And it turns out Ronaldo’s prediction was correct; after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Chelsea in the Champions League final and a two-point cushion against the same club that secured the Premier League title, the United star was awarded his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 – beating eventual rival Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres to the prestigious honour.
Hargreaves continued to praise Ronaldo’s work ethic that was instilled in the footballer since the beginning of his career, and also pinpointed the culture at United that helped the team achieve greatness like nobody had seen before.
He said: “Everyone looks at him finished now and how he looks and how he plays and the goals he’s scoring, but again you’re doing that every day. Take a guy thats 6’1 with that talent, that work ethic, and you’re going to create gold.
Cristiano Ronaldo was correct, as he won the Ballon d’Or following an incredible campaign in 2007/08
“And so when I saw him putting the work in, I always thought I was a good pro, like before bed I used to do push-ups and sit-ups and stretch for an hour and I just thought that kind of helped me a little but I didn’t do much else.
“And then I met Mike and we were in the gym a lot, which I loved, but then I saw Cristiano. So you put the work in, then you add another layer so then you start to do more, and I just think culture is such a powerful thing and we just had an amazing culture of everybody was talented but everybody wants to get better.”
Since his departure from United in 2009, Ronaldo has gone on to win four more Ballon d’Ors, four more Champions League titles and a host of other accolades, including two La Liga titles, two Serie A titles and the European Championship in 2016 with Portugal. The 40-year-old is still plying his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, and has his sights set on playing at the 2026 World Cup.
Owen Hargreaves and Cristiano Ronaldo won the Champions League together in 2008(Image: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Hargreaves had a different path compared to his former United team-mate, as injuries plagued his time at Old Trafford, which eventually led to his departure from the club at the end of the 2010/11 season.
From there, the midfielder spent one year at rivals Manchester City, in the same season that they dramatically won the Premier League on the final day from under United’s fingertips thanks to a last minute winner from Sergio Aguero against Queens Park Rangers.
However, due to Hargreaves only playing one league match all season, he did not qualify to receive a winner’s medal.
With every passing day, Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr looks highly uncertain as, according to reports, contract negotiations have been put on hold.
Initially, the 40-year-old forward was keen to sign a two-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club. However, as per Spanish outlet Marca, Ronaldo is reviewing his future with the club, especially after their defeat in the AFC Champions League Elite semifinal against Japanese outfit Kawasaki Frontale.
Ronaldo is desperate to win trophies every season, and unfortunately that Al-Nassr have failed to accomplish this season. Stefano Pioli’s men were confident of winning the AFC Champions League, but they fell short.
Al-Nassr are currently fourth in the Saudi Pro League standings and with only four matches left this season, there’s no chance of Ronaldo winng the league title this season.
They are 11 points adrift of league leaders Al-Ittihad after 30 league games this season. Interestingly, they lost to Al-Ittihad this weekend 3-2 despite Sadio Mane and Ayman Yahya scoring for Pioli’s men.
With this defeat, Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are not on course to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite next season. The Portuguese icon was visibly frustrated as his team gave away a two-goal lead to a late winner. Following the game, Ronaldo reportedly left the stadium without even changing his kit.
Ronaldo knows he is in the twilight of his career and every season is crucial for him. Since moving to Saudi Arabia in 2023, he has only won a single title with Al-Nassr – 2023 Arab Champions Cup.
So the 40-year-old is contemplating his options before pledging his future with the Saudi Arabian outfit for the next two years.
Will Ronaldo return to Sporting CP?
Reports on Fichajes were suggesting that Sporting CP may turn towards Ronaldo as a short-term fix after they allow their in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres to leave the club this summer.
While it is a dream for the Sporting fans and the team management to have Ronaldo back at his boyhood club, it looks tough from a financial standpoint for now. The 40-year-old would need to make massive wage cuts if he intends to make the move.
The Portuguese forward wants to stay fit and amongst goals for the World Cup next year. He is currently the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League with 23 goals and is gradually gaining momentum towards his landmark of 1,000 career goals (934 strikes).
Overall, his chance of joining another Saudi Pro League team looks more likely than his return to Sporting this summer.
