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Defending Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr will be forced to begin their title defense without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Riyadh-based club wrapped up the 2025–26 campaign in fairytale fashion. After a seven-year drought without a league crown, Al Nassr finally crossed the finish line on the final matchday, beating Damac 4–1 to claim the Saudi championship at last.
It marked the first major silverware Ronaldo collected with the club since his move to the Saudi Pro League back in December 2022. The victory served as a fitting farewell for Jorge Jesus, who departed Al-Awwal Park to take charge of the Portugal men's national team.
Now led by former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, Al Nassr are aiming to continue their momentum and open the 2026–27 season with a win against Al Fateh. However, they will be without their top scorer Ronaldo.
Why Ronaldo Is Not Playing Against Al Fateh
Ronaldo is absent from Saturday's clash with Al Fateh because the striker only rejoined the squad a few days ago. The 41-year-old missed the entirety of preseason following the 2026 World Cup and his recent wedding to longtime partner Georgina Rodríguez.
Postecoglou had previously hinted that Ronaldo might feature in the season opener, stating "Ronaldo is always ready" during his pre-match press conference. However, the five-time Ballon d'Or recipient is being afforded additional time to rebuild his fitness before being thrust into competitive action.
With Ronaldo unavailable, Postecoglou turned to Abdullah Al-Hamdan to lead the attack alongside João Félix. The latter will look to build on a standout debut season in Al Nassr colors; Félix contributed 26 goals and 18 assists on the way to the Saudi Pro League title.
Ronaldo, for his part, topped the team's scoring charts with 30 goals last season, 28 of which came in the Saudi top flight. It still wasn't enough to claim the Golden Boot, however; that accolade went to Al Qadsiah striker Julián Quiñones, who netted 33 times.
When Will Ronaldo Make His 2026–27 Debut for Al Nassr?
Ronaldo is anticipated to make his return on Friday, Aug. 21, in the fixture against Al Riyadh. The Real Madrid icon will have had a full week of training to prepare for his first appearance since Portugal's round of 16 World Cup exit at the hands of Spain.
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Al Nassr have a King's Cup fixture against Al Diriyah on Tuesday, Aug. 18, but Ronaldo's involvement should not be required for the midweek encounter. All indications suggest Postecoglou will preserve his star forward for the club's next league outing.
Ronaldo will be keen to return to the pitch after a disappointing World Cup campaign. The Portugal skipper managed just three goals throughout the tournament, with two of those coming in the group stage against Uzbekistan.
It was likely his final opportunity for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to claim the one trophy that has eluded him. Now, he shifts his focus back to club football and his ongoing quest to reach 1,000 career goals. Ronaldo currently stands at 976, meaning the historic milestone could be achieved this season in the Saudi capital.