Cristiano Ronaldo to Miss Al-Nassr’s Opening Matches After Wedding
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be on the pitch when Al-Nassr launch their title defence. He will not even be in the squad.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Yaum, the Portuguese star is set to miss Al-Nassr’s first two competitive fixtures of the 2026–2027 campaign: the Roshn League opener against Al-Fateh next Saturday and the King’s Cup round of 32 clash with Al-Diriyah three days later.
The reason is off the field. The report states that Ronaldo will sit out both matches after marrying his long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez on Saturday.
A 32-Day Absence and Counting
Ronaldo has not featured for Al-Nassr since returning from international duty with Portugal at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Portugal’s campaign ended on 6 July, knocked out in the round of 16 by Spain, who edged them with a single goal.
From there, the expectation was simple: after the standard 21-day legal rest period granted to World Cup players, Ronaldo would report back and rejoin club training. That return never came.
He skipped Al-Nassr’s overseas training camp, which concluded last Wednesday, and remained absent when the squad rotated through three different locations for pre-season work: Riyadh, Abha and Lisbon. Every session went ahead without their captain. His absence has now stretched to 32 days.
Champions Without Their Figurehead
The timing is delicate. Al-Nassr, led by Ronaldo, finally ended a seven-year wait for the Saudi League title last season. They arrive at the new campaign not as hopeful challengers, but as defending champions with a target on their backs and ambitions raised.
Inside the club, the objectives are clear. Retain the Roshn League crown. Go one better on the continental stage and capture the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in their history.
They will begin that journey, though, without the man who transformed the club’s global profile and drove last season’s surge. For at least two games, the champions must set the tone for their season without the player who usually sets the standard.
The fixtures will not wait. Al-Fateh first, Al-Diriyah next. Then, only then, does the question get answered: what does Ronaldo’s return look like, and how quickly can he drag Al-Nassr back into his orbit?
