Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Al-Nassr’s Opening Games for Honeymoon
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be on the pitch when Al-Nassr launch their title defence. He will be on honeymoon instead.
Saudi outlet Al-Yaum reports that the Portuguese star is set to miss Al-Nassr’s first two competitive fixtures of the 2026-2027 season: the Roshn League opener against Al-Fateh and the King’s Cup round of 32 clash with Al-Diriyah.
The timing is striking. According to the report, Ronaldo’s absence is linked to a major personal milestone: he married long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez on Saturday. While the club prepares for the grind of a new campaign, its biggest name is stepping briefly out of the spotlight for a different kind of ceremony.
From World Cup Exit to Prolonged Absence
Ronaldo has not kicked a ball for Al-Nassr since returning from international duty with Portugal at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Portugal’s run ended on 6 July, knocked out in the round of 16 by Spain, who edged them with a single goal.
Under standard regulations, Ronaldo was expected back after a 21-day legal rest period following the World Cup exit. That window closed without him rejoining the squad. The team flew out for their overseas training camp. He stayed away. The camp ended last Wednesday. Still no Ronaldo.
Al-Nassr held preparations across three locations – Riyadh, Abha and Lisbon – building fitness, testing tactics, sharpening combinations. Their captain was missing from every session. His absence has now stretched to 32 days.
For a 41-year-old forward still shaping games at the highest level, rhythm and conditioning are everything. Those first two competitive matches would normally serve as a launchpad. Instead, Al-Nassr must start without the man who defines their attack.
Champions, But Chasing More
The context makes this absence even more significant. Al-Nassr come into the new season as Saudi champions, a status they had waited seven long years to reclaim. Ronaldo was central to that resurgence, driving a side that had stumbled in recent years back to the summit of the Roshn League.
Now the club wants more than domestic dominance. The target is clear: retain the league title and finally lift the AFC Champions League Elite trophy, a prize that has eluded them throughout their history. Those ambitions were built on the idea of Ronaldo leading from the front, not watching the first steps of the campaign from afar.
Al-Fateh next Saturday will test how Al-Nassr cope without him in a league setting. Three days later, Al-Diriyah in the King’s Cup offers no margin for error in a knockout tie. Drop intensity early, and the season’s carefully drawn plans can start to fray before they have truly begun.
Ronaldo will return to a team already under pressure to prove last season was not a one-off. When he walks back into the dressing room after this personal chapter, he will find a club that expects him to flip instantly from wedding celebrations to title defence and continental pursuit. The question is simple: how quickly can he do it?
