Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly refused to play for Al-Nassr ahead of their upcoming Saudi Pro League fixture, amid growing dissatisfaction with how the club is being managed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
According to a report by Portuguese outlet A Bola, the 40-year-old forward is unhappy with what he believes to be unequal treatment of Al-Nassr compared to rival Saudi clubs also backed by the PIF.
Al-Nassr are scheduled to face Al-Riyadh on Monday, but the club could now be without their captain, who has scored 18 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions this season.
Ronaldo frustration over transfer spending
A source quoted by A Bola claims Ronaldo’s frustration centres on how the PIF allocates resources among the four Saudi Pro League clubs in which it holds a 75% ownership stake:
Al-Nassr
Al-Hilal
Al-Ittihad
Al-Ahli
While all four clubs have benefited from state-backed investment, Ronaldo reportedly believes Al-Nassr has fallen behind its rivals in terms of squad reinforcement.
During the January transfer window, Al-Nassr signed only 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem, while rivals were far more active:
Al-Hilal signed Spanish defender Pablo Marí for £1.7 million
Spent £26 million on Rennes forward Kader Meïté
Are reportedly finalising another £26 million deal for Saimon Bouabre
Ronaldo is said to believe this imbalance has left Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus without sufficient tools to compete at the highest level.
‘Political power’ comments fuel tensions
Last month, Jesus publicly criticised the situation, stating that Al-Nassr lacks the “political power” of Al-Hilal, a club he previously coached.
Those remarks sparked backlash, with Al-Hilal reportedly calling for Jesus to be suspended for six months to a year by the Saudi Pro League for bringing the league into disrepute.
The comments appear to have heightened tensions behind the scenes and strengthened Ronaldo’s stance.
Ronaldo’s Saudi contract and ambitions
Ronaldo remains the highest-paid footballer in history, earning an estimated £488,000 per day under his Al-Nassr contract.
Despite his prolific scoring, the Portuguese superstar has yet to win a domestic trophy with the Riyadh-based club since joining in 2023.
In December, Ronaldo hinted at a possible return to European football, stating that his ultimate goal remains reaching 1,000 career goals.
“My passion is high and I want to continue,” Ronaldo said at an awards ceremony in Dubai.
“It doesn’t matter where I play — Europe or the Middle East.”
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star scored his 961st career goal during Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Al-Kholood last Friday.
No official confirmation yet
As of publication, Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League, and Ronaldo’s representatives have not issued official statements confirming a strike or refusal to play.
The situation remains fluid, with attention now turning to whether Ronaldo features in Monday’s match — a decision that could have major implications for Saudi football’s global image.
