Al Nassr vs Al Khaleej: Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play His Final Saudi Pro League Game for Al Nassr?

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Al Nassr prepares to welcome Al Khaleej in their second-last match of the season at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (May 21). This will also mark Al Nassr’s final home fixture of the campaign. However, fans around the world remain uncertain about Cristiano Ronaldo’s availability for the game.

Al Nassr has faced a difficult season in this Saudi Pro League run, and with just two matches remaining, their highest possible finish is 70 points, 12 short of last season’s tally when they finished runners-up. They also faced elimination in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals at the hands of Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.

In their previous fixture against Al Taawoun, the Knights of Najd settled for a disappointing draw. But they were without their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the clash due to illness. That outcome saw Stefano Pioli’s squad drop out of third place in the league table and confirmed their absence from next season’s AFC Champions League Elite.

Moreover, Al Nassr risks missing out on all continental competitions next season unless they secure third place and rely on Al Ittihad defeating Al Qadsiah in the King’s Cup final later this month to qualify for the AFC Champions League Two. As such, this upcoming match is critical for Al Nassr, and they are anticipated to deploy their strongest lineup.

Al Nassr vs Al Khaleej: Will Cristiano Ronaldo Feature in Today’s Saudi Pro League Clash?

After sitting out the previous two games versus Al Okhdood and Al Taawoun, the Portuguese icon appears likely to play in today’s fixture. The 40-year-old forward was seen training in preparation for the clash and no injury or other issue has been reported that could prevent his participation. This may also be Ronaldo’s final opportunity to perform in front of home fans this season. Therefore, spectators can likely expect to witness Ronaldo on the pitch against Al Khaleej.

Al Nassr vs Al Khaleej: Is This Ronaldo’s Last Game for Al Nassr?

Numerous reports suggest that Ronaldo is dissatisfied with Al Nassr’s poor results during his spell and his limited chances to compete in major international tournaments. Following this season, the opportunity to play in the AFC Champions League Elite has slipped away, and qualification for other continental contests remains uncertain.

Given the circumstances, there is a strong possibility that Ronaldo may move to another league or possibly to a different club within the Saudi league. In the latter case, Saudi football fans might still get to enjoy Ronaldo’s brilliance. However, it is highly probable that this will be Ronaldo’s final home game in Al Nassr colors for the Knights of Najd.