Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Second Game Amid Saudi Pro League Dispute

Cristiano Ronaldo has missed a second consecutive match for Al Nassr as he engages in an ongoing dispute with the Saudi Pro League.

The 41-year-old was absent from the squad during Friday’s match against Al Ittihad, having also missed Monday’s victory over Al Riyadh. Sources informed ESPN that Ronaldo planned to boycott Friday’s game due to a lack of assurance from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) regarding forthcoming changes to the club’s management.

Contrary to those plans, Al Nassr had anticipated Ronaldo would participate in the match, according to various reports. ESPN further indicated that Ronaldo was dissatisfied with the PIF’s support for his club during the recent transfer window.

Ronaldo’s frustration stems from observing his club’s rivals, Al Hilal—also 75% owned by the PIF—signing his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, from Al Ittihad during the January transfer window.

Despite Ronaldo’s absence, Al Nassr won the game 2-0, propelling them to second place in the league standings, just one point behind leaders Al Hilal. Fans showed their solidarity with the Portuguese star by raising yellow signs displaying his name and iconic number seven during the seventh minute of the match at Al-Awwal Park.

In response to the situation, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement on Thursday, cautioning Ronaldo that no player possesses the authority to influence decisions outside of their own team. The league emphasized that it operates on the principle of independence for each club, ensuring that decisions regarding recruitment, spending, and strategy are made by each club within an established financial framework designed for sustainability and competitive balance.

“Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition,” the league’s statement continued. “Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. However, no individual—regardless of stature—can dictate decisions that are beyond their own club.”

The league further asserted that recent transfer activities underscore this independence, with clubs making their own decisions within approved financial limits. The competitive nature of the league is reflected in the closely contested standings, which maintain a title race among the top four teams.

The focus remains on football, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a credible and competitive environment for players and fans alike.

It is understood that transfer funds originate not from the PIF, but rather from a player acquisition fund managed centrally by the Saudi Pro League. This fund allocates resources annually based on club size, with the nation’s top four clubs—Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli—reportedly receiving similar funding prior to the previous summer transfer window.