Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not playing for Al Nassr against Al Taawon for the Saudi Pro League?
Al Nassr are set to host Al Taawoun on Matchday 32 of the 2024–25 Saudi Pro League season as they continue their push to qualify for next season’s AFC Champions League Elite. However, Cristiano Ronaldo has once again been left off the squad list, raising questions about his fitness—and his future with the club.
While Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad have already secured the league title, Al Nassr still have plenty to play for in the final stretch of the season. Yet head coach Stefano Pioli has reportedly decided to exclude Cristiano Ronaldo from the squad due to ongoing fitness concerns and the forward’s recent absence from team training sessions.
Ronaldo isn’t the only high-profile omission. Defender Mohamed Simakan, who joined from RB Leipzig, has also been ruled out of the match, with both players expected to return for the final fixtures of the campaign. Pioli and his staff are reportedly being cautious as the season winds down.
Ronaldo and an uncertain future at Al Nassr
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Ronaldo’s future at Al Nassr is anything but certain. His current contract is set to expire on June 30, and negotiations for a renewal—which began earlier this year—have reportedly stalled. With no resolution in sight, speculation about his next move continues to grow.
This marks Ronaldo’s second consecutive absence, following the club’s 9–0 win over Al Okhdood on Monday. After that SPL match, Pioli explained the Portuguese star’s absence by citing muscle fatigue.
“Ronaldo felt muscle fatigue, so we preferred to rest him and keep him for the upcoming matches,” Pioli told reporters. Still, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner out for over a week and the club providing no official injury update, doubts remain about the true nature of his status.
Portugal will face Germany in the UEFA Nations League semifinals on June 4, and Ronaldo is expected to wear the captain’s armband once again. With less than a month before that critical international fixture, the limited playing time in Saudi Arabia is raising concerns about his form and readiness.
Whether this is simply load management or a sign of deeper issues behind the scenes, Ronaldo’s absence is becoming one of the major talking points in Saudi football. Al Nassr’s next game will be on Wednesday against Al Khaleej, where his presence—and decision on his future—will be closely watched.