Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr win three points appeal to put ACL qualification within reach

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :May 26, 2025 at 7:50 PM

Modified at :May 26, 2025 at 7:50 PM

(Courtesy : Getty)

The Saudi club are hoping to reach the AFC Champions League Elite.

Al-Nassr have won an appeal to be given three points, putting qualification for the Asian Champions League within reach, thus, Cristiano Ronaldo’s poor season could yet end on a surprise high note.

The decision was made public by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation on Monday, just hours before the Saudi Pro League season’s last round. Al-Nassr had finished in fourth place and were not in the running to make it to Asia’s premier club competition, the AFC Champions League Elite.

However, the additional three points put Al-Nassr in third place and give them a chance to pass Al-Hilal, who are now in second place, in the final round. Tonight, Al-Hilal takes on Al Qadsiah, while Ronaldo’s club plays Al-Fateh.

Ronaldo’s would instead compete in Asia’s second division if it placed third, but they will hope that Al-Hilal loses against Al Qadsiah, which will see them finish second and guarantee them a place in the AFC elite tournament next season.

Although Al-Nassr lost 2-1 to Al-Orubah in March, they claimed that Rafi Al-Ruwaili, their goalie, was not allowed to play because he was not a full-time professional.

In a ruling that guarantees Al-Orubah’s relegation, the Saudi Federation sided with Al-Nassr, and now they have an excellent chance to reach Asia’s biggest tournament.

The biggest name in Saudi Arabia is Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, but it’s unknown if the 40-year-old striker will stay at Al-Nassr for another season as his contract expires on June 30. However, reports about the talks of the new contract are making the rounds, but it remains to be seen.

Despite being the league’s top scorer with 24 goals this season, he has not yet taken home a major title since making the high-profile transfer to Al-Nassr in December 2022.

Cristiano Ronaldo could still play in the FIFA Club World Cup

According to reports, he might sign a loan deal with another team to participate in FIFA Club World Cup, a 32-team competition that begins in the US on June 14.

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Rajarshi Shukla

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.