Cristiano Ronaldo Left Out of Al Nassr AFC Squad

Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Al Nassr’s squad for their AFC Champions League trip to Uzbekistan, with head coach Ange Postecoglou opting to rest the Portuguese superstar ahead of Monday’s match against Pakhtakor in Tashkent. The decision comes amid growing concerns about the regional security situation and its potential impact on major Asian football competitions.

Ronaldo’s absence follows a busy period for the forward, who scored a hat-trick in a Saudi Pro League match last week. That performance took his career tally for club and country to 985 goals, leaving him just 15 goals short of the landmark 1,000-goal target he has repeatedly spoken about achieving.

However, the 40-year-old will not travel with the team for the continental fixture. Postecoglou explained that the decision was based on the demanding schedule, travel commitments and the need to manage key players’ workloads.

Postecoglou explains Ronaldo’s absence from Al Nassr squad

Speaking to reporters in Uzbekistan, Postecoglou confirmed that Ronaldo was among three players being rested for the match. Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan were also left out as the coaching staff considered the physical demands placed on the squad.

“Given the pressure of matches and the amount of travel involved,” Postecoglou said, explaining the decision to rest Ronaldo, Coman and Simakan.

The Al Nassr manager, who previously coached Tottenham Hotspur and the Australia national team, also discussed the team’s progress despite a difficult beginning to the campaign. He acknowledged that preparations had not been ideal but said the club had reached a stronger position.

“Despite the difficult start, the preparation conditions, and the lack of complete readiness at the beginning of the season, we have now reached an excellent stage,” Postecoglou added.

Al Nassr are targeting their first-ever Asian continental title, but their campaign has not started as expected. The Saudi club currently sit ninth in the western-zone standings, making them the lowest-ranked among the five Saudi Pro League representatives in the 32-team competition.

Ronaldo’s absence follows previous AFC Champions League postponement

Ronaldo also missed Al Nassr’s previous AFC Champions League fixture after Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates declined to travel to Riyadh for the scheduled match. The Asian Football Confederation subsequently postponed the game.

The situation has added to concerns about the impact of regional security developments on the competition. Al Nassr’s previous home match in the tournament, scheduled for October 12, was also delayed by an hour following reports of missile attacks involving Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

These developments have raised questions about travel arrangements, match scheduling and the ability of clubs to fulfil their continental commitments safely. Ronaldo’s latest absence comes against this wider background, although Postecoglou publicly cited fixture pressure and travel demands as the reasons for resting him.

The postponement involving Al-Wasl also disrupted Al Nassr’s schedule and meant Ronaldo missed another opportunity to feature in the Asian competition. The club must now focus on its trip to Uzbekistan as it attempts to improve its position in the western-zone group.

Al Nassr face pressure in the AFC Champions League standings

The AFC Champions League’s league-stage format divides the 32 participating teams into eastern and western groups, each containing 16 clubs. The top eight teams from each group qualify for the knockout stage.

Al Nassr’s ninth-place position means the club currently sit just outside the qualification places in the western zone. Their campaign therefore requires greater consistency if they are to progress towards the knockout rounds and maintain their hopes of winning the continental trophy.

The Saudi side are among the leading clubs in the region, but their slow start has placed additional importance on upcoming fixtures. The match against Pakhtakor offers an opportunity to collect valuable points, even without Ronaldo in the travelling squad.

Postecoglou will have to manage the available players carefully as Al Nassr balance domestic and continental commitments. The absence of Ronaldo, Coman and Simakan also highlights the challenge of handling a demanding schedule involving frequent travel across different competitions.

Al Ahli prepare for Al Sadd clash as Ivan Toney returns

Al Nassr are not the only Saudi club dealing with a busy continental schedule. Al Ahli, winners of the previous two Asian titles, are third in their western-zone group ahead of an away fixture against Qatar’s Al Sadd.

The Jeddah-based club will be looking to respond after suffering a heavy 6-1 defeat at home on Friday. Despite that result, Al Ahli are expected to have England striker Ivan Toney available for the upcoming match.

Toney returned to London last week to attend court, where he pleaded not guilty to an assault charge. The striker has scored 13 league goals this season and remains an important attacking option for Al Ahli.

His expected availability will be significant as the Saudi club attempt to recover from their recent defeat and maintain their position in the continental standings. The match against Al Sadd will provide another test of their ability to compete away from home.

Al Hilal continue winning run ahead of Shabab Al-Ahli fixture

Elsewhere, Al Hilal have enjoyed a strong run of form in the Saudi Pro League. The Riyadh club moved to the top of the domestic standings after securing their fifth consecutive league victory.

England forward Ollie Watkins scored during the latest win, contributing to Al Hilal’s continued momentum. The four-time Asian champions will now turn their attention to a home fixture against Shabab Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.

That match appears set to proceed as scheduled, but wider concerns about regional security remain relevant to the Asian football calendar. Clubs and governing bodies must continue monitoring developments as they organise international travel and upcoming fixtures.

Saudi Arabia’s Asian Cup faces questions over security situation

Beyond the current AFC Champions League fixtures, attention is also turning towards the Asian Cup, which is scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia on January 7. The tournament is one of the biggest events in international Asian football, but the security situation has raised questions about whether it can take place as originally planned.

The Houthis have launched multiple attacks on Saudi Arabia, contributing to uncertainty around the region. Those developments have prompted concerns from football officials about the safety of teams, supporters and tournament personnel.

Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has publicly expressed doubts about holding the competition in Saudi Arabia under the current circumstances. Speaking at an AFC Congress last month, Miyamoto said the situation did not appear safe enough for the tournament to proceed without difficulty.

“Based on what I’ve learned from the news, the situation is still unsafe, so at this point, I don’t think it would be easy to hold the [Asian] Cup there,” Miyamoto said.

His comments reflect the concerns being discussed among football officials as they assess the potential impact of the regional situation on the tournament.

AFC says decision on Asian Cup can wait until November

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has indicated that the governing body is continuing to monitor developments before deciding whether any changes to the Asian Cup schedule or location are necessary.

Salman said there was still time to evaluate the situation and suggested that a decision could be made towards the end of November if conditions required it.

“We can wait until the end of November,” Salman said. “Things can change very quickly for better or worse in the region, and it is a question of seeing what happens.”

He also acknowledged that postponement could become an option if the security situation made it necessary. One possibility mentioned was moving the tournament back by a year, to 2028.

“If we need to make a decision then we will, but we could move back a year to 2028 if we need to.”

The comments indicate that the AFC has not ruled out changes, although no final decision has been announced in the supplied report. The governing body is expected to consider developments before determining whether the tournament can proceed as planned.

Saudi organizers continue Asian Cup preparations

Despite the concerns raised by officials, Saudi organizers have maintained that preparations for the Asian Cup are continuing according to schedule. Kick-off times and venues for all matches were finalized last week, suggesting that planning work remains ongoing.

The difference between the organizers’ position and the concerns expressed by some football officials highlights the uncertainty surrounding the tournament. While preparations continue, the AFC has left room to reassess the situation before making a final decision.

For now, Al Nassr must concentrate on its AFC Champions League campaign, beginning with the trip to face Pakhtakor without Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward’s absence is officially being managed as part of the club’s workload and travel considerations, while the wider security situation continues to create uncertainty across Asian football.

With Ronaldo chasing the historic 1,000-goal milestone, Al Nassr seeking its first Asian title and Saudi Arabia preparing to host the Asian Cup, developments in the coming weeks could have an important impact on the region’s football calendar.