United News of Bangladesh

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a second straight match for Al-Nassr as questions continue over his future at the Saudi club. Al-Nassr beat rivals Al-Ittihad 2-0 in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, scoring two late goals through former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel. Ronaldo was not included in the squad for the match. During the game, some home supporters showed their backing for the Portuguese star by holding yellow cards with his name and number seven in the seventh minute. Ronaldo, now 41, also sat out Al-Nassr’s 1-0 league win over Al-Riyadh on Monday. Portuguese outlet ‘A Bola’reported that Ronaldo refused to play after becoming unhappy with the way the club is being run by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). In response, the Saudi Pro League told BBC Sport that Ronaldo has played a key role in raising the club’s profile and goals, but added that “no individual  however significant determines decisions beyond their own club”. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 after leaving Manchester United and became the highest-paid footballer in history, earning about £177 million a year. The club, which has won the Saudi Pro League 10 times, described his signing as “history in the making”. Cristiano Ronaldo turns 41: How the superstar built a brand beyond football However, since joining, Ronaldo has won only one trophy  the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023. He signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr in June 2025. Both Al-Nassr and league leaders Al-Hilal are owned by the PIF. BBC Sport reported that Ronaldo may be frustrated by Karim Benzema’s recent move to Al-Hilal. Benzema scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 6-0 win on Thursday. After 20 matches, Al-Nassr sit second in the table, just one point behind Al-Hilal.  

Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of winning a first major trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia in 2022 were given an unlikely domestic lifeline on Saturday and, on Monday, the Portuguese star can help Al-Nassr stay on course for a first Asian title. Ronaldo scored his seventh goal of the season against Al-Qadsia on Friday in a battle against Spanish defender Nacho but his former Real Madrid teammate was celebrating at the final whistle. “It was a different and difficult game against Ronaldo,” Nacho said. “He is my friend and I had the best part of my career playing with him but here we have a different experience and are playing for different teams. It was an honor to play against him.” Al-Nassr looked to be slipping out of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) title race. Al-Hilal, unbeaten in 46 league games, would have gone nine points clear on Saturday with a win against Al-Khaleej but despite leading 2-0, Hilal fell to a shock 3-2 defeat, a first since May 2023. “We knew that the victories would not continue because this is football,” said Hilal forward Marcos Leonardo. “We have to work and achieve victory in the next match in the AFC Champions League Elite.” Saudi Arabian clubs have yet to lose in the western zone of the Asian competition — the 24 teams in the tournament are divided into two groups of 12 with eight from each progressing to the Round of 16 after playing eight matches — and occupy the top three spots. Al-Nassr is third with ten points from four games and will be almost certain of a place in the next round if it defeats Al-Gharafa of Qatar. Al-Hilal, a four-time champion and top of the group with four wins, also travels to Qatar to face 2011 winner Al-Sadd. Unlike SPL games, Neymar is eligible to play in Asian competitions but the Brazilian is still recovering from the injury sustained against Esteghlal of Iran earlier in November. Al-Ahli of Jeddah is second with the maximum 12 points and faces defending champion Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates. Al-Ain is bottom of the group and lost 5-4 to Hilal and then 5-1 to Nassr, defeats which cost Hernan Crespo his job as head coach earlier in November. The Argentine has been replaced by Leonardo Jardim, the Portuguese boss who led Al-Hilal to the 2021 continental title. 3 detained for making racist slurs during El Clásico match at Madrid's stadium In the eastern zone, there is another former champion in 12th and last place. Ulsan HD, winner in 2012 and 2020, has lost all four games. Ulsan has just won a third successive South Korean title and needs to defeat newly-crowned Chinese champion Shanghai Port to keep chances of the second round alive. Australia’s sole representative Central Coast Mariners is also in need of victory as it has just one point. The A-League team however has a daunting trip to Japan to face group leader Vissel Kobe..