Cristiano Ronaldo to Miss Al-Nassr’s First Two Matches

Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature for Al-Nassr at the start of the 2026–2027 campaign, with the Portuguese star set to miss the club’s first two competitive matches of the season.

Saudi outlet Al-Yaum reports that Ronaldo will sit out the Roshn League opener against Al-Fateh next Saturday, as well as the King’s Cup round of 32 clash with Al-Diriyah three days later.

The reason is off the pitch, not on it. According to the same report, Ronaldo has just tied the knot with long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez, with the wedding taking place on Saturday. The timing means he will not be available as Al-Nassr kick off their title defence and begin their domestic cup campaign.

His absence only extends a long spell away from the club.

Ronaldo has not been involved with Al-Nassr since Portugal’s 2026 World Cup run ended on 6 July, when Spain knocked them out in the round of 16 with a single goal. Under standard regulations, he was expected back after a 21-day legal rest period following World Cup elimination. That window came and went. He did not report back.

He then missed Al-Nassr’s overseas training camp, which concluded last Wednesday, and stayed away from every session across the three cities where the club staged their preparations: Riyadh, Abha and Lisbon. The gap has now grown to 32 days without a single training appearance for his club.

For a player who has built a career on relentless availability and obsessive conditioning, that is a striking statistic.

Al-Nassr enter the new season with the bar set high. Led by Ronaldo, they snapped a seven-year wait for the Saudi League title last season and are now chasing back-to-back championships. They also have continental ambitions, targeting a first-ever AFC Champions League Elite crown.

Those objectives remain the same. The early weeks, though, they will have to navigate without the man who transformed their profile and powered their title charge.