Cristiano Ronaldo
February 2026
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez claims Ronaldo is no longer preoccupied with reaching 1,000 career goals, despite Ronaldo previously framing it as a major target. Ronaldo continues scoring for Al-Nassr and has restated motivation around trophies and longevity, while Martinez suggests his mindset has shifted as his career enters its final phase.
Cristiano Ronaldo
February 2026
Ronaldo is chasing a third straight Saudi Pro League Golden Boot but trails Ivan Toney, with the margin tightened after Ronaldo missed two games during a protest. Ronaldo has 21 league goals in 21 games, while Toney leads with 23; Ronaldo’s earlier absence could be the swing factor in the run-in as both chase top scorer honours.
Cristiano Ronaldo
February 2026
Al-Nassr won 5-0 to extend their winning run and keep first place, with Ronaldo scoring a VAR-awarded penalty and adding an assist, while Mane and Coman were also on the scoresheet. An early spot-kick set the tone, then Al-Nassr’s quality overwhelmed Al-Najma with two first-half goals; Ronaldo teed up Mane after the break and Martinez added another from a corner to complete a dominant rout.
Cristiano Ronaldo
February 2026
Ronaldo returned to the starting XI, captained Al-Nassr, and scored after sitting out two league games amid reports of dissatisfaction tied to transfer backing and finances. The account frames his absence as a deliberate boycott, then says talks addressed issues including overdue salary payments and internal control, leading to his return. The league’s statement stressed no individual dictates decisions beyond their own club.
Roberto Martínez
February 2026
He argued there is no visible physical decline in Ronaldo’s metrics and said retirement will be determined only by when the player feels he can no longer help the team. Martinez pointed to physical data as evidence Ronaldo can continue, while stressing Ronaldo’s self-criticism as the deciding factor. The implication is that club and country usage will be governed by performance standards rather than age.
Cristiano Ronaldo
February 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo is again being linked with an exit after sitting out matches in protest over Saudi league transfer politics, but reporting says Manchester United are not positioning themselves to bring him back for a third spell. Ronaldo is frustrated about how PIF-backed clubs have strengthened and has effectively applied pressure by missing games, while the league has publicly pushed back on any suggestion he can dictate decisions. Reports also claim a release clause could be triggered in the summer, keeping global interest alive even if United do not move.
Cristiano Ronaldo
January 2026
Reports say Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Al-Nassr this summer, with one scenario tied to Mohamed Salah moving to the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo has missed two league matches amid a protest over PIF-backed transfers that strengthened rivals Al-Hilal. The dispute escalated after Karim Benzema moved from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal and scored a debut hat-trick, while Al-Nassr did not add similar reinforcements. The league issued a statement saying clubs act independently within the same financial framework and no star controls decisions.
Cristiano Ronaldo
January 2026
Report says Ronaldo escalated his protest by warning he could leave Al-Nassr and Saudi Arabia in the summer, tied to frustration over PIF-controlled transfer decisions, including Benzema moving from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal. Ronaldo missed the match versus Al-Riyadh in what is framed as protest action. He has returned to training but his availability for the upcoming Al-Ittihad fixture is uncertain amid reported internal pressure and contractual expectations to play unless injured.
Karim Benzema
January 2026
Benzema completed a surprise move from Al-Ittihad to league leaders Al-Hilal late in the window, intensifying title-race tension and fueling reports of Ronaldo frustration at Al-Nassr’s lack of additions. Reports claimed Ronaldo’s absence vs Al-Riyadh aligned with strike rumors tied to perceived unequal PIF-backed investment; Al-Nassr did not publicly explain the absence, and Benzema’s move proceeded anyway as Al-Hilal stayed top by a point.
Cristiano Ronaldo
January 2026
Reports claim Ronaldo may refuse selection for the next match, driven by dissatisfaction with how Al-Nassr is being supported relative to other PIF-backed clubs, not due to load management. One outlet says the planned absence narrative is wrong and frames the issue as governance and investment frustration, citing limited winter recruitment and internal powers being curtailed for senior Portuguese staff.
