Portuguese goal-scoring maestro Cristiano Ronaldo is probably going to be absent from Tuesday’s AFC Champions League match between Al Nassr and Istiklol.
At the age of 38, Ronaldo has been scoring goals for his club in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) and has been on fire this season as he continues to enjoy his purple patch. In 26 games this season, he has scored 24 goals, three of which have come in the continental competition.
He won’t, however, have the chance to increase his total in the competition as Goal.com reported that Ronaldo will sit out the next match in order to rest the master forward for Al-Nassr’s final continental match in Group E.
Ronaldo is still in control of the Saudi League despite being in the latter stages of his career. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner set yet another record on Friday at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh with his brace against Al Akhdoud.
With 527 league goals in his career, the Portuguese sensation currently holds the record for most first-division goals scored in football history. The 38-year-old scored 61 goals in 2023 as well.
Ronaldo helped his team win three points in the Saudi Pro League with his brace against Al Akhdoud in the 77th and 80th minutes.
After 15 games, Al Nassr is now in second place with 34 points, seven points behind league leader Al-Hial (41).
Early this year, Ronaldo moved to the Saudi League after finishing his second spell with Manchester United, the team he grew up playing for. He left Juventus in 2021 to join the Red Devils, but his tenure in the English team was short-lived as he severely criticised United coach Erik Ten Hag in a contentious interview with Piers Morgan.
Ten Hag’s contract was terminated by United after Ronaldo alleged that the Portuguese player was not treated with respect by Ten Hag.
The forward from Portugal played in 54 games during his second stint at United, tallying 27 goals.
