Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has declared a personal strike, opting out of Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Riyadh on Monday, sources revealed, citing his growing discontent with unequal backing from the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund.
The 40-year-old forward, who pockets £488,000 daily since joining the Riyadh-based club in 2023, feels shortchanged by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which holds a 75-percent stake in Al-Nassr and three other top-tier teams: Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli.
Ronaldo’s ire stems from perceived favoritism in player acquisitions, with rivals luring marquee names like Karim Benzema, Kalidou Koulibaly and Riyad Mahrez, while Al-Nassr’s sole January signing was unheralded 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem.
By contrast, Al-Hilal bolstered its squad with Spanish defender Pablo Mari for £1.7 million, Rennes attacker Kader Meite for £26 million, and is nearing a £26 million capture of Neom’s Saimon Bouabre.
Club manager Jorge Jesus amplified the complaints, telling media: “We do not have the political power of Al-Hilal,” a remark that spurred Al-Hilal to demand a six-to-12-month ban for the Portuguese coach.
The standoff follows Ronaldo’s December musings on a European comeback, as he chases a milestone 1,000 career goals.
Speaking at an event in Dubai, he said: “My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe.”
He added: “I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going. I will reach the number (1000 goals) for sure, if no injuries.”
Ronaldo’s move to stage a strike has sent shockwaves through the Saudi Pro League, where his 2023 arrival helped raise the competition’s global profile. He has scored more than 90 goals for Al‑Nassr and signed a two‑year contract extension in 2025, keeping him in Riyadh beyond his 41st birthday.
The Portuguese football federation and his club have not issued detailed public statements on the situation. However, the absence of one of the sport’s most marketable figures from Al‑Nassr’s matchday squad has intensified debate about internal dynamics in Saudi football, where sovereign investment has reshaped the league’s landscape.
