Al-Nassr vs. Toulouse: Will Cristiano Ronaldo play after missing from Jorge Jesus’ squad in first pre-season friendly?

As Al-Nassr prepares for its second preseason fixture of the summer, all eyes turn to Austria’s Untersberg-Arena, where the Saudi giant will face French outfit Toulouse.

As Al-Nassr prepares for its second pre-season fixture of the summer, all eyes turn to Austria’s Untersberg-Arena, where the Saudi giant will face French outfit Toulouse. But the burning question remains: Will Cristiano Ronaldo return to the pitch after being left out of Jorge Jesus’ squad in their previous friendly?

The match is shaping up to be a significant step in Al-Nassr’s 2025-26 preparations, especially as the club integrates into Jorge Jesus’ tactical system following his recent appointment. The Portuguese tactician got off to a winning start with a 5-2 victory over Austria’s St. Johann, but there were glaring gaps in defense — and the absence of Ronaldo only amplified the mystery surrounding the game.

Jorge Jesus made an emphatic statement in his first outing as the team’s boss. Despite being without their most iconic player, the team showcased fluid attacking play and netted five goals in their pre-season opener. Sadio Mane, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Mohamed Simakan, and Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem all found the back of the net, joined by a St. Johann own goal.

While fans celebrated the win, many were left puzzled by one name missing from the lineup — Cristiano Ronaldo. Given his relentless competitive nature, few could understand why he wasn’t even named on the bench.

Ronaldo’s absence was planned

Contrary to fears of injury or discord, the veteran’s omission was a matter of timing and caution. According to Al-Riyadh, the Portuguese forward had only rejoined the squad a day before the match, after enjoying an extended break due to his international commitments. Ronaldo helped Portugal lift the UEFA Nations League title earlier this summer, rounding off a grueling season with yet another trophy.

Rather than rush him back into action, manager Jorge Jesus and the technical staff made a calculated decision to ease their No.7 back into full fitness. The plan? Focus on personalized training sessions and target a return in the next game — against Toulouse.

Will Ronaldo feature against Toulouse?

The answer, according to multiple reports from Austria, is yes. “Cristiano Ronaldo is fit to start against Toulouse on Wednesday,” confirmed Sport. “The Al-Nassr superstar is expected to lead the line as the Saudi giants continue their pre-season preparations.”

The clash is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, at Untersberg-Arena in Grodig, Austria. Fans worldwide will be watching closely to see if Ronaldo makes his return to competitive action, potentially debuting under Jorge Jesus and leading the Knights of Najd’s front line once again.