Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr has been thrown into doubt after the Portuguese forward was absent from the club’s 1–0 Saudi Pro League victory over Al Riyadh on Monday, amid reports of a growing rift with the league’s hierarchy.
Ronaldo, who is fully fit, did not miss the match through injury or rotation. Instead, multiple reports from Portugal and Saudi Arabia claim the 40-year-old deliberately refused to play as a form of protest over what he perceives as a lack of competitive balance in the Saudi Pro League.
Why is Cristiano Ronaldo unhappy?
At the heart of Ronaldo’s frustration is the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which holds controlling stakes in the league’s “Big Four” clubs: Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli. Sources close to the situation say Ronaldo believes Al-Hilal, the current league leaders, have received preferential backing compared to Al-Nassr.
That sentiment intensified on Monday when Karim Benzema, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate, completed a late move from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal after terminating his contract. The French striker, 38, joins an already dominant Al-Hilal squad as they sit one point clear at the top of the table.
By contrast, Al-Nassr’s January transfer window was quiet, with the club only adding 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem. Ronaldo is reported to have opposed Benzema’s move, arguing that competitive balance must be preserved if the league is to maintain sporting credibility.
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Despite Ronaldo’s objections, the transfer was finalised before the deadline. His response was to remove himself from the matchday squad- a decision that has drawn widespread attention across the football world.
Internally, there appears to be little tension between Ronaldo and Al-Nassr’s management. CEO Jose Semedo and sporting director Simão Coutinho- both close allies of the player- are not believed to be at odds with him. However, reports suggest their authority has recently been curtailed by the club’s board, following public comments from manager Jorge Jesus about Al-Nassr lacking the “political power” of rivals Al-Hilal.
Al-Nassr insist there is no crisis and point to the club’s spending of more than £100 million this season. Saudi Pro League officials have also rejected claims of favouritism, stating that funding across PIF-backed clubs is regulated and equitable. They have further clarified that Benzema’s move to Al-Hilal was funded by a private Saudi investor, not directly by PIF.
Nevertheless, the episode has placed the league under uncomfortable scrutiny at a time when it is seeking greater global legitimacy ahead of Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
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In Ronaldo’s absence on Monday, Sadio Mané scored the decisive goal to secure all three points for Al-Nassr. Attention now turns to Friday’s crucial clash with Al-Ittihad, where senior Saudi officials are reportedly urging Ronaldo to return to action.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has 18 months remaining on his contract, which he extended in June 2025, but it includes a reported €50 million (£43 million) release clause. That clause has reignited speculation about a possible summer exit, with a sensational return to Manchester United among the rumours, though any such move would be complicated by Ronaldo’s salary and age.
For now, Ronaldo remains under contract and central to the Saudi Pro League’s global profile. But his protest has exposed growing tensions beneath the surface- and raised questions about whether star power alone is enough to sustain the league’s long-term ambitions.
