Waleed Al-Faraj, an influential sports commentator in Saudi Arabia, recently criticized Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from Al Nassr's match against Al Riyadh in round 20 of the Saudi Pro League on 2/2. Speaking on the "Action ma’a Walid" program on MBC Action, Al-Faraj stated that Ronaldo confuses his role as an ambassador with that of an operator at the club.

"Ronaldo is a world-class player, who came here as an ambassador for the Saudi football project," Al-Faraj explained. "But he has confused being an ambassador with being an operator."

Ronaldo takes a penalty kick in the Al Nassr vs Al Fayah match in the Saudi Pro League at Al Awwal Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the evening of 1/11/2025. *Photo: Reuters*

The 56-year-old expert noted that the club initially tried to manage the narrative, explaining the captain's absence as a period of rest. However, this was quickly followed by a flurry of rumors from Western media, suggesting Ronaldo might leave Saudi Arabia, return to Portugal, contact Man Utd, or consider playing in the US.

Al-Faraj characterized these reports as "a form of media and psychological warfare," originating from Ronaldo's team. "Everything was exaggerated as if a major crisis was imminent, when in essence it was just personal frustration," he added. "Such handling is not befitting the stature of a player wearing the Al Nassr jersey."

Al-Faraj believes Ronaldo is indeed angry, but he dismissed the notion that Karim Benzema's transfer from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal is the primary cause. He argued that Benzema joining a rival club is not the root of the issue. Instead, Ronaldo's disappointment has built up over time, stemming from Al Nassr's performance compared to other major teams within the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) ecosystem.

Since Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in early 2023, other PIF-backed clubs have seen significant success. Al Hilal has won the national championship, King's Cup, and two Super Cups. Al Ittihad secured a domestic double last season, while Al Ahli claimed the AFC Champions League Elite and the Saudi Super Cup. In contrast, Al Nassr's only notable achievement is the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, which is not considered an official title, along with two runner-up finishes in the Saudi Pro League and the 2024 King's Cup. According to Al-Faraj, this disparity is difficult for a star accustomed to winning, like Ronaldo, to accept.

Ronaldo celebrates an Al Nassr goal in the match against Al Okhdood at Al Awwal Stadium on 27/12/2025. *Photo: Reuters*

The expert also issued a warning: if Ronaldo continues to miss the match against Al Ittihad on 6/2, his relationship with Al Nassr and Saudi football could enter a fundamentally different phase. However, Portuguese media reported on 3/2 that Ronaldo is showing signs of de-escalation. The newspaper Record stated that Ronaldo would end his "rebellion" and return to training with Al Nassr today, 4/2, in preparation for the important match against Al Ittihad. Record affirmed that Ronaldo did not leave Riyadh to pressure PIF, nor did he miss any team training sessions, contrary to earlier speculation.

Several Saudi journalists have also confirmed the high likelihood of Ronaldo returning to training. Nevertheless, Record noted that the Portuguese superstar's return does not imply a long-term commitment to his future. Ronaldo is reportedly still considering leaving Al Nassr after the 2025-2026 season, with no intention of returning to play in Portugal, but weighing options in Europe or MLS.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Ronaldo's performance in Saudi Arabia remains undeniable. Nearing 41 years old, he has scored 18 goals and provided three assists in 22 matches across all competitions this season. The Portuguese forward is currently second in the Saudi Pro League top scorer race with 17 goals, one less than Ivan Toney (Al Ahli).

By Hoang An (via Kooora)