Ronaldo Misses Esteghlal Trip Due To Minor Injury

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March 14 2026, 05:00 PM

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Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of Al-Nassr's squad for their AFC Champions League match against Esteghlal on Monday due to a minor injury. Despite scoring 25 goals across all competitions this season, Ronaldo's absence is confirmed by the club. The team will face Esteghlal in the first leg of the last-16 tie without him.

Al-Nassr's coach, Stefano Pioli, addressed Ronaldo's condition during a press conference. He mentioned that while the injury isn't severe, they decided it was best for Ronaldo to sit out this game. "He had a physical problem. I wouldn't say it was 100% a big problem, but we preferred him not to be in the game," Pioli stated.

Ronaldo Out for Esteghlal Match with Injury

In their latest match, Al-Nassr faced an unexpected 2-1 defeat against Al-Orobah. This result adds pressure as they prepare for their Champions League encounter without one of their key players. The team is currently trailing behind Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League title race.

Previously, when Al-Nassr visited Tehran in 2023, fans caused a commotion at the team's hotel hoping to meet Ronaldo. Due to this incident, Al-Nassr requested that Monday's match be relocated to a neutral venue. However, this request was denied, and the game will proceed at the Azadi Sports Complex.

The absence of Ronaldo is significant as he has been instrumental for Al-Nassr with his impressive goal tally this season. His contribution has been vital despite the team's current standing in the league. The upcoming match against Esteghlal is crucial for advancing in the Champions League.

Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes in their recent loss to Al-Orobah, indicating his importance to the team even when results don't go their way. His leadership and experience are missed as they aim to secure a favourable result in Iran.

Al-Nassr faces a challenging task ahead without Ronaldo's presence on the field. The team must adapt quickly and rely on other players to step up during this critical phase of their campaign.