Disappointments continue to haunt Cristiano Ronaldo, this time regarding his future next season with Al-Nassr.
Al-Nassr suffered a bitter 3-2 defeat to Al-Ittihad after leading 2-0 at halftime. Al-Ahli defeated Al-Taawoun 2-0, and Al-Hilal defeated Al-Raed 5-3 in the 30th round of the Saudi League.
Al-Nassr will not participate in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League.
This defeat and the results of their rivals have put Al-Nassr in a real predicament, with talk of it likely to be eliminated from the 2025-26 AFC Champions League.
Three teams from Saudi Arabia qualify for the Champions League. Al-Ahli has already secured its place as the winner of the last edition, along with the Roshen League champion and runner-up.
Al-Ittihad leads the league standings by six points over second-placed Al-Hilal, while Al-Nassr currently sits in fourth place, five points behind Al-Mawj Al-Azraq.
With only four rounds remaining, Al-Nassr needs Al-Hilal to lose two matches and Ronaldo’s teammates to win all their remaining matches to qualify for the Elite League, a prospect that is virtually impossible.
Ronaldo’s Dream Is Over
Upon the announcement of Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Al-Nassr, the Portuguese star came out and clearly stated that his work in Europe was over, and that his next step was to achieve success in another continent, Asia, where he seeks to achieve success.
In his first participation in the AFC Champions League, he was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Al-Ain, and in the 2025 edition, he was eliminated in the semifinals by Japan’s Kawasaki in a major surprise.
After the latest defeat, Ronaldo said that his dreams had been postponed, but he would fight for them. However, the reality is that they have become extremely difficult, given his contractual relationship with Al-Nassr.
The Portuguese star’s contract with Al-Nassr expires this season, but he is in the process of renewing it for another year. Therefore, he will not participate in the AFC Champions League at all!
Al-Nassr’s failure to qualify for the Champions League could be the beginning of the end of Ronaldo’s journey with the club, potentially leading to his transfer to another club, whether inside or outside Saudi Arabia, until the 2026 World Cup.
Al-Nassr Refuses to Participate in the AFC Champions League 2
Finishing third in the Saudi League, or fourth place with Al-Ahli finishing third, means Al-Nassr will participate in the AFC Champions League 2 next season.
The AFC Champions League 2 is the second major Asian club tournament, comparable to the UEFA Europa League or the CAF Confederation Cup.
According to Saudi media reports, if Al-Nassr occupies the qualifying spots, it will withdraw from the tournament, as the club does not want to play in anything less than the elite league.
At the same time, several top players will be reluctant to participate in this tournament, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo.
