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Cristiano Ronaldo removed from Al Nassr squad due to ‘pressure of matches’ amid Saudi security concerns

CRISTIANO RONALDO was left out of Al-Nassr's AFC Champions League Elite squad due to tactical reasons amid security issues in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo, 41, netted a hat-trick for Ange Postecoglou's side on Thursday's 5-3 win over Al-Kholood to take his…

By Kostas Lianos · The Sun

Published: Monday, 2 November 2026 at 2:57 PM

Key Things to Know

Cristiano Ronaldo was omitted from Al-Nassr's squad to face Pakhtakor due to fixture congestion and travel.
Manager Ange Postecoglou also chose to rest Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan.
The omission follows regional security issues that previously disrupted AFC Champions League matches in Saudi Arabia.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Al-Nassr's squad for their AFC Champions League Elite match against Pakhtakor in Uzbekistan. Manager Ange Postecoglou decided not to include the 41-year-old forward due to the heavy match schedule and extensive travel demands. Teammates Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan were also rested for the fixture.

The decision comes amid heightened security concerns in the region following recent airport attacks by Houthi rebels. Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory over Al-Kholood prior to the squad announcement, bringing his career total to 985 goals.

Read the full article on The Sun

Cristiano Ronaldo removed from Al Nassr squad due to ‘pressure of matches’ amid Saudi security concerns

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