Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been excluded from Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Riyadh today, despite being fully fit and available for selection, reigniting discussion around his history of high-profile disputes at the club level.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who turns 41 on February 5, 2026, remains one of football’s most celebrated figures, but his glittering career has also featured several controversial moments tied to dissatisfaction with club decisions and management.
According to Planet Football, Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr, is once again at the centre of attention in February 2026. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Portuguese forward will not feature in the match, a decision linked to growing frustration over the club’s strategic direction.
Planet Football revealed, “Sources close to the situation indicated that Ronaldo was unhappy with how Al-Nassr were being supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns a majority stake in the league’s four biggest clubs, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad. Ronaldo reportedly believes that Al-Nassr have not been backed to the same extent as rivals Al-Hilal, who are leading the table and are close to signing Karim Benzema.”
Ronaldo who is still chasing his first Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr, is said to be disappointed by the club’s relatively quiet January transfer window and concerned that the title race could be slipping away. While Al-Nassr are expected to manage against lower-ranked opposition, the decision to leave him out has been widely interpreted as a symbolic protest.
This latest episode echoes previous incidents in Ronaldo’s career where tensions with club management became public. His second spell at Manchester United ended abruptly after a breakdown in his relationship with then-manager Erik ten Hag. Matters came to a head during a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur when Ronaldo refused to come on as a late substitute.
Feeling disrespected, he left the bench before the final whistle and walked down the tunnel while the game was still ongoing, an incident that drew widespread criticism and dominated global headlines.
Ronaldo later addressed the situation in a televised interview with Piers Morgan, admitting regret while standing by his feelings.
“I regret leaving the stadium,” Ronaldo said. “But at the same time, I felt provoked. It’s not acceptable for me to be put on for three minutes. I know what I can give to a team.”
He went on to play only two more league matches for Manchester United before his contract was terminated by mutual consent in November 2022.
A similar situation unfolded during his time at Juventus in 2021, when he requested not to be selected for the club’s opening home match against Empoli as he pushed for a transfer. Juventus lost the game 1-0, and Ronaldo completed his return to Manchester United shortly afterwards. Then manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that the forward no longer wished to play for the club.
Despite missing out on Champions League success in Turin, Ronaldo enjoyed an impressive spell in Italy, scoring 101 goals in 134 appearances and winning five trophies across three seasons.
As speculation grows over his future and current mindset at Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s competitive drive and uncompromising standards continue to shape both his legacy and the narratives surrounding his career.
