Al-Nassr expect Cristiano Ronaldo to feature in AFC Champions League Two game vs FK Arkadag
(Courtesy : Al Nassr)
The Portuguese star has missed the last two matches despite being fully fit.
With a spot in the Asian Champions League Two quarterfinals up for grabs, Al-Nassr are hopeful that Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the pitch on Wednesday in AFC Champions League Two vs FK Arkadag.
Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to win any major trophies since joining the Saudi club and this competition could act as a top chance to change that.
Cristiano Ronaldo has not participated in either of Al-Nassr’s previous two Saudi Pro League games, reportedly because he was dissatisfied with the club’s financial situation, especially when rival Al-Hilal signed Karim Benzema during the transfer window last month from Al Ittihad.
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is the majority owner of Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli. However, Ronaldo feels that the PIF has only backed other clubs and ignored Al-Nassr.
However, following Ronaldo’s boycott of the first game, PIF released a statement warning the player, and despite their comments, the former Madrid star proceeded to miss out on a second game in a row.
Al-Nassr defeated defending champion Al-Ittihad 2-0 on Friday, without the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Al-Nassr hopeful Cristiano Ronaldo returns for AFC Two match
Al-Nassr will resume their pursuit of the AFC Champions League Two trophy as they face Arkadag of Turkmenistan in the knockout stage midweek.
Reports suggest that they are expecting Ronaldo to return to action and end his protest after missing the last two matches. However, the 41-year-old has so far not played a single minute in this competition, and it remains to be seen if he will be involved with the squad at all.
When are Al-Nassr facing Arkadag?
They will play them on the 11th February 2026.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo play vs Arkadag?
He has not played in any AFC Two matches this term and his participation is yet to be confirmed.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.