Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence After Shocking Vomiting Incident in Al Nassr Win

While his former club Real Madrid were engaged in one of the most electrifying Champions League knockout ties in recent memory, Cristiano Ronaldo found himself hunched over a toilet in Riyadh.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner succumbed to stomach cramps after being taken off in the dying minutes of Wednesday's tight win for Al Nassr against Al Ettifaq. As coach Jorge Jesus disclosed after the match, Ronaldo made a beeline straight for the bathroom.

"I was considering leaving him out; he wasn't in good condition," Jesus said. "He was dealing with stomach pains and general fatigue and, when I took him off, he went straight to the dressing room and vomited."

For his part, Ronaldo didn't linger on the sickness.

In a social media update shortly after the final whistle, the 41-year-old posted: "+3. Great energy from the stands." Despite his poor health, Ronaldo still managed to generate seven attempts on goal against Al Ettifaq, though none converted. Nevertheless, Al Nassr secured all three points without needing Ronaldo to deliver, which is hardly unprecedented.

Ronaldo Closing on Long Wait for Saudi Success

Al Nassr's win extended their lead to eight points over Al Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League table with only five matches left in the season. Ronaldo's team still face two of their nearest rivals — third-place Al Ahli and fourth-place Al Qadsiah — but are in a commanding position to claim their first major silverware since Ronaldo joined the club.

The former champion of England, Spain, and Italy finished as runner-up in each of his first two Saudi seasons before a disappointing third-place finish last term. That sharp decline pushed Al Nassr into Asia's secondary continental tournament — the aptly titled Champions League Two — a competition they could also lift before the season concludes, having advanced to the quarterfinals.

While the title will inevitably be framed as Ronaldo's achievement, this has been far from a solo effort. João Félix has directly contributed to more goals than his fellow Portuguese this season (27 goal involvements compared to 26), and much of Al Nassr's success has been rooted in defensive solidity — an area where Ronaldo has rarely made a significant contribution.

Al Nassr's independence from Ronaldo is underscored by their record in his absence. The Riyadh club have won all 12 matches played without their No. 7 leading the line.

Ronaldo's Rocky World Cup Preparations Continue

Ronaldo was sidelined for Al Nassr's opening two fixtures of March due to a hamstring problem, which also ruled him out of Portugal's final round of pre-World Cup friendlies ahead of squad announcement. Roberto Martínez made clear he fully intends to call up his veteran forward.

"Cristiano is our captain, a role model and a player with genuine hunger," Martínez said last month. "He's not just a 41-year-old player; he's someone who pushes himself to get better every single day. He continues to be an exemplary captain and an inspiration to the younger players, someone who leads by example and embodies everything we stand for."

Ronaldo's appetite was no doubt dampened by his stomach troubles midweek, adding yet another complication to an already uncertain buildup to the World Cup.

Ronaldo's Pre-World Cup Fixtures

*Potential fixture.