Ronaldo Stays Home as Al Nassr Faces Security Concerns

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 982 professional goals, a figure that stands just 18 short of the 1,000 mark he is chasing. The Portuguese forward did not travel with Al Nassr for their Tuesday match against Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League. Instead, he remained in Saudi Arabia following a recent domestic win.

Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed the absences of Ronaldo, Kingsley Coman, and Mohamed Simakan. He cited the need to manage player loads after Al Nassr defeated Al Kholood 5-3. In that match, Ronaldo recorded a hat trick, extending his record scoring tally. The team currently sits ninth in the western zone of the competition, a position that keeps them outside the top spots for the round of 16.

The decision to rest key players comes amid rising security concerns in the region. Al Nassr previously faced a one-hour delay on October 12 due to reported missile strikes nearby. Another recent fixture was suspended after a rival team declined to travel to Saudi Arabia. These incidents have raised questions about the safety of international competitions in the Middle East.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, addressed the uncertainty surrounding the 2027/2028 Asian Cup. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted in Saudi Arabia. Al Khalifa stated that the federation has set a deadline to evaluate the venue's viability. They will make a final decision by the end of November on whether to keep the host country or postpone the event.

Al Nassr is set to field a squad without its marquee stars for the trip to Tashkent. The team will rely on remaining roster members to secure a result against Pakhtakor. The outcome will determine their standing in the western zone as the group stage continues.