Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly refuses to play amid Al Nassr frustrations

Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly gone on strike, refusing to play for the Saudi Pro League club amid growing dissatisfaction with team management and financial backing.

According to Sky Sports, Ronaldo was absent from both the starting lineup and the substitutes’ bench as Al Nassr faced Al Riyadh, a move widely interpreted as a protest against the club’s leadership.

The 40-year-old star, who joined the club in 2023 and has been a major draw for the league, is reportedly frustrated by what he perceives as unequal financial support from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF holds majority stakes in Al Nassr as well as rivals Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Al Ittihad.

“While clubs like Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Al Ittihad have been actively strengthening their squads with high-profile signings, Al Nassr’s activity in the transfer window has been limited,” Sky Sports reported. Ronaldo reportedly views the club’s sole major signing of an 18-year-old Iraqi midfielder as insufficient for a team aiming to challenge for the Saudi Pro League title.

The striker is also said to be unhappy with how the club is being managed, further compounding his frustration as Al Nassr continues to pursue its first league title since Ronaldo’s arrival.

Reports also confirmed that Ronaldo would not feature in the league match despite being fully fit, underscoring tensions between the player and the club hierarchy.