Security Fears: Ronaldo Stays Home as Al Nassr Faces Uzbek Rivals
The star striker and two teammates were left behind in Riyadh, citing load management and regional safety concerns ahead of Tuesday's match in Tashkent.
By Christopher Singh ·
Cristiano Ronaldo will not travel to Tashkent for Al Nassr's AFC Champions League match against Pakhtakor on Tuesday. Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed the absence along with Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan, citing the need to manage player workload after a recent victory.
The decision comes shortly after Al Nassr defeated Al Kholood 5-3. Ronaldo scored a hat trick in that game, moving his career total to 982 goals. The squad is currently ninth in the Western Conference, which places them outside the top spots needed for the round of 16.
Regional security concerns also factored into the call. Al Nassr has faced disruptions in previous fixtures due to missile attacks in the Middle East. A game on October 12 was delayed by one hour following such reports. In another incident, Al Wasl refused to travel to Saudi Arabia, forcing the suspension of their match against Al Nassr.
The instability has raised questions about the 2027-2028 Asian Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted in Saudi Arabia. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa acknowledged that the governing body has set a deadline for late November. They will use that window to decide if the host nation remains viable or if the tournament must be postponed.
