Ronaldo Rests Amid Asian Cup Doubts

Cristiano Ronaldo is sitting out Al-Nassr’s upcoming match against Pakhtakor in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as the club navigates a congested schedule and regional security issues. Coach Ange Postecoglou left the forward off the roster for the Monday game, citing the physical toll of frequent travel and match density. The decision comes just one week after Al-Nassr’s previous continental fixture was postponed.

Ronaldo recently reached a career milestone of 985 goals by scoring a hat trick in the Saudi Pro League. Despite the individual achievement, the team is struggling competitively in the AFC Champions League. Al-Nassr currently sits in ninth place in the western zone, which is the lowest ranking among the five Saudi clubs participating in the 32-team tournament. The competition format requires the top eight teams from each zone to advance to the knockout rounds.

Postecoglou addressed the team's position at a news conference in Uzbekistan, noting that the squad has reached an excellent stage of preparation despite a difficult start to the season. He mentioned that Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan were also rested for the same reasons as Ronaldo. The coach emphasized the need to manage player load given the current conditions.

Security concerns are influencing competition logistics across Asia. Al-Nassr’s previous home match on Oct. 12 was delayed by an hour following reports of missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. A subsequent game against Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates was postponed after the visiting team declined to travel to Riyadh. These disruptions have added uncertainty to the clubs' paths in the continental championship.

Other Saudi clubs are also managing their rosters amid the ongoing situation. Al-Ahli, the winner of the last two Asian titles, is third in its group. The Jeddah club lost 6-1 at home on Friday but expects to have England striker Ivan Toney available for its trip to Qatar. Toney, who has 13 league goals this season, pleaded not guilty to an assault charge in London last week. Al-Hilal remains at the top of the Saudi Pro League after securing a fifth consecutive victory with a goal from Ollie Watkins.

The primary concern now shifts to the AFC Asian Cup, which is scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 7. Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto expressed skepticism about holding the tournament as planned. At an AFC Congress last month, Miyamoto stated that the situation remains unsafe based on current news reports, making it difficult to host the event in the region.

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa indicated that the governing body is monitoring the situation closely. He noted that organizers can wait until the end of November to make a final decision. Salman said the situation in the region can change quickly and suggested that the tournament could potentially be moved to 2028 if necessary. Saudi organizers have confirmed that preparations are continuing on schedule, with all match times and venues finalized last week.