The Portuguese star was surprisingly left out of the Al-Nassr squad for the crucial match against Al Shorta in Iraq, putting huge pressure on the Saudi Arabian side.

Cristiano Ronaldo has surprisingly missed Al-Nassr’s first match of the 2024 AFC Champions League due to a virus, the Saudi Arabian club announced just a day before they face Iraq’s Al Shorta on Monday, September 16, 2024.

According to the official announcement from Al-Nassr on social network X (formerly Twitter): “Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo is unwell today and has been diagnosed with a viral infection. The team doctor confirmed that he needs to rest and play in his position. Therefore, he will not accompany the team to Iraq today. We wish our captain a speedy recovery.”

CR7 was sick and was allowed to rest.   

Ronaldo’s absence is a big blow for Al-Nassr, especially as the team needs a good start to their AFC Champions League campaign. Al-Nassr are currently sixth in the Saudi Pro League standings with one win and two draws after three games. In their most recent match, they beat Al Feiha 4-1, with Ronaldo scoring the second goal of the game, his second of the season.

The 2024 edition of the AFC Champions League will see a revamped format, injecting new excitement into the competition. The match between Al-Shorta and Al-Nassr, both from the Elite West, promises to be one of the highlights. Al-Shorta are looking to build on last season’s winning streak and secure a top-eight finish, while Al-Nassr, coached by Luis Castro, are under pressure to improve their form after a slow start to the domestic season.

El Bicho celebrated his 900th goal record in a recent match with Al Nassr.

Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr will have to rely on other stars like Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic and Aymeric Laporte to find victory. This is an opportunity for these players to show their worth and affirm their important role in the squad.

Ronaldo’s absence in this important match will not only affect Al-Nassr’s tactics but also the team’s mentality. However, this could also be an opportunity for Al-Nassr to prove that they are not too dependent on one individual, even a superstar like Cristiano Ronaldo.