Alriyadh Alnassr: Ronaldo Back but Starts on Bench
No — Cristiano Ronaldo is not missing the Al Riyadh vs Al Nassr clash. The Al-Nassr captain is named among the substitutes for today's Roshn League second-round match at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, ending a two-game absence to open the 2026–27 season. Fans tracking alriyadh alnassr should expect him available off the bench, not starting.
Key Takeaways
- Ronaldo is in Ange Postecoglou's squad and listed among Al-Nassr's substitutes for the Al Riyadh fixture.
- He sat out Al-Nassr's 3-0 Roshn League win over Al-Fateh and the 4-1 King's Cup win over Al-Diriyah.
- Abdullah Al-Hamdan and João Félix start up front, with Kingsley Coman and Sadio Mané on the wings.
- Kickoff is set for 19:00 local time (18:00 CEST) at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
- Al-Nassr sit second on three points; Al-Riyadh are 14th after a 4-2 loss to Al-Ettifaq.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo starting against Al Riyadh today?
Not according to the team sheet. Postecoglou named Ronaldo on the substitutes' bench for the first time this season, per Goal.com. The Portuguese captain returns after missing the club's opening two matches of the 2026–27 campaign.
Yahoo Sports reported Ronaldo had been managing a minor pelvic injury and match fitness, and that he traveled with the first-team squad. Al Nassr zone had already confirmed he was included in the squad list before the official lineup landed.
Who leads the alriyadh alnassr attack without Ronaldo starting?
Saudi striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan again leads the Al-Nassr attack alongside Portugal's João Félix. French winger Kingsley Coman and Senegal's Sadio Mané complete a strong wide threat from the start.
Postecoglou rested French defender Mohamed Simakan and Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa amid the early-season fixture pile-up. Abdulelah Al-Amri partners Iñigo Martínez in central defense, with Nawaf Boushal and Salem Al-Najdi at full-back. Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Brazil's Angelo start in midfield, with Bento in goal.
Why does this Roshn League clash matter for Al-Nassr?
Al-Nassr enter second on three points after beating Al-Fateh 3-0. Al-Riyadh sit 14th with no points following a 4-2 defeat to Al-Ettifaq. Yahoo Sports notes Al Nassr have won five and drawn one of their last six meetings with Al Riyadh, including a 1-0 win on February 2, 2026, decided by a Mané goal.
Off the pitch, Ronaldo recently debuted a short blonde hairstyle after confirming his marriage to Georgina Rodríguez, and he is fresh off Portugal's World Cup run that ended with a 1-0 Round of 16 loss to Spain. For more sports and culture coverage in this hub, see Future Tech & AI Wonders.
U.S. and Canadian viewers can follow on Fox One, Fox Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, and Fubo, according to Yahoo Sports. As kickoff nears, the alriyadh alnassr storyline stays simple: Ronaldo is back in the matchday plans—just not from minute one.