According to coach Jorge Jesus during a press conference on 6/3, the Portugal captain will fly to Madrid, Spain, to work with his private physical therapy team. This decision was made after medical examinations revealed his injury was more severe than initially anticipated.

Ronaldo sustained a hamstring injury during Al Nassr's 3-1 victory over Al Fayha last weekend. The 41-year-old forward left the field in the final minutes, visibly in pain. Initially, the coaching staff believed it was merely muscle overload, but subsequent test results necessitated his absence for recovery.

Cristiano Ronaldo smiles during a warm-up before Portugal's match against Hungary in World Cup 2026 Group F qualifiers, at the Lisbon stadium, Portugal, 14/10/2025. Photo: AP

"Cristiano left the field in the last match due to a muscle injury", coach Jorge Jesus stated. "After tests, we found the problem was more serious than expected, and he needs time to rest. Ronaldo will travel to Spain for treatment with his private physical therapist, which is normal for injured players. We hope Ronaldo returns soon to continue helping the team."

The injury will definitely sideline Ronaldo from the match against Neom in round 25 of the Saudi Pro League on the evening of 7/3 at Al Awwal Park. It is also highly probable he will not recover in time for the subsequent match against Al Khaleej.

The absence of their key striker is a significant loss for Al Nassr in the title race. After 22 domestic league matches, Ronaldo has scored 21 goals, placing him among the leading scorers. Across both club and national team levels, he has netted 966 career goals, approaching the 1,000-goal milestone.

Al Nassr currently leads the standings with 61 points after 24 rounds, comprising 20 wins, one draw, and three losses. They hold a two-point advantage over their closest rivals and are among the three teams contending for the championship.

Ronaldo's departure to Spain coincides with significant instability in the Middle East. In recent days, social media has circulated rumors that the Portuguese superstar was leaving Saudi Arabia due to concerns over regional conflict following attacks by the United States and Israel targeting Iran.

Earlier, data from Flightradar24 indicated Ronaldo's private jet, a Bombardier Global Express 6500, had flown from Riyadh to Madrid. However, there is no confirmed evidence that Ronaldo was aboard that flight, and sources suggest the trip is primarily for injury treatment.

Football tournaments in the Middle East are still experiencing some impact from the security situation. The Asian Football Confederation postponed several AFC Champions League matches due to safety concerns, indicating that geopolitical conflicts can extend to the sports sector. Despite this, the Saudi Pro League continues as scheduled.

If his recovery progresses favorably, Ronaldo might return in time for Portugal's friendly matches at the end of March. The European national team is scheduled to face Mexico at the Azteca stadium on 28/3, before playing against the United States in Atlanta on 31/3, as part of their preparations for the World Cup 2026.

By Hoang An (Source: Kooora, ESPN)