Even at the age of 38 and after leaving European soccer, Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the world’s top players. With Al Nassr of the Saudi Pro League, he has scored 24 goals in 26 games this season.
He continues to compete at a high level with players in their peak years, despite reaching an advanced age. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, the Portuguese striker may sit out a match for the Saudi club owing to an alarming cause.
Why will Ronaldo miss Al Nassr’s final group game?
Any reasonable manager would have to admit that Cristiano Ronaldo is an obvious choice for Al Nassr’s starting lineup. This team’s present success is largely down to the Portuguese striker, who is their game-changer. However, manager Luis Castro has made the decision to exclude him from their upcoming game.
The Saudi club is scheduled to play an away game in the AFC Champions League group stage against a Tajikistan club named Istiklol. Ronaldo has not been included in the preliminary squad for the match against the Tajik club.
Al Nassr have already qualified from the group stages, winning 4 out of their 5 games. With 13 points, they have already secured a spot in the Round of 16, so the outcome of the last game against Istiklol is not a concern. Ronaldo scored 3 goals himself to secure those crucial points, but unfortunately, he won’t be able to build on that performance.
Due to the game’s lack of significance, the manager intends to provide Ronaldo with some rest. He has been dealing with a minor injury and has been consistently playing in numerous consecutive matches. It will also be a great opportunity to give other players some game time and allow Ronaldo, who is aging, to recover and ensure he is in top form.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo nursing an injury?
Cristiano Ronaldo has suffered a slight injury, with the Portuguese captain nursing a neck issue at present. It happened during the last AFC game against Persepolis, which ended in a 0-0 draw, and saw a noble act from Ronaldo. He was seen being substituted in the 78th minute, which led many fans to be concerned if he would be out for a long time.
Even in the last game against rivals Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, which saw them lose 3-0, the five time Ballon d’Or winner was seen with tape around his neck. However, fans can rest assured that the injury isn’t serious at all, with the manager already dismissing any notion of it.
Cristiano Ronaldo will have a good period of rest and recovery as his side Al Nassr face Istiklol away tonight. Meanwhile, the Portuguese striker will be expected to be back in the team when they face Al Riyadh on Saturday.
