Al Nassr Edge Al Riyadh Amid Ronaldo Protest Drama

The Saudi Pro League delivered another night of drama on February 2, 2026, as Al Nassr traveled to the Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium for a pivotal clash against Al Riyadh. The stakes were sky-high: Al Nassr, sitting second in the league with 43 points from 18 matches, were just three points behind fierce rivals Al Hilal and eager to keep their title hopes alive. Al Riyadh, meanwhile, languished in 15th place with just 12 points, desperately searching for a lifeline to steer clear of relegation danger.

But the buzz before kickoff wasn’t just about league standings or tactical matchups—it was the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr’s talisman and top scorer, that sent shockwaves through the football world. According to ESPN and multiple sources, Ronaldo was left out of the squad not due to injury, but as a protest against the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) handling of club affairs. His decision, rooted in frustration over stalled negotiations and perceived lack of investment compared to rivals like Al Hilal, left fans and pundits alike wondering what the future holds for the Portuguese superstar in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo’s absence was felt immediately. Al Nassr had relied heavily on his scoring prowess all season, and his exclusion from the Matchday 20 squad raised eyebrows across the league. As reported by ESPN, his protest was a direct response to the PIF’s management, echoing earlier criticism from former teammate Talisca, who had publicly questioned the club’s direction after being let go despite leading the team in goals. The sense of unrest was palpable, with internal decisions at Al Nassr reportedly on hold and transfer activity stalling, even as Al Hilal strengthened their squad by securing Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad.

Coach Jorge Jesus was forced to reshuffle his lineup. With Ronaldo out, Abdulrahman Ghareeb was handed the center forward role, flanked by the dynamic duo of Joao Felix and Sadio Mane. The rest of the starting eleven featured Bento Krepski in goal; a backline of Sultan Al Ghanam, Mohamed Simakan, Iñigo Martinez, and Saad Al Nasser; and a midfield anchored by Ali Al Hassan, Ângelo Gabriel, and Ayman Yahya. On the other side, Al Riyadh, under head coach José Daniel Carreño, fielded a full-strength squad with Milan Borjan in goal and attacking threats like Mamadou Sylla and Tozé leading their charge.

The match kicked off under the floodlights, with both teams aware of the magnitude of the moment. Al Nassr, despite the off-field turmoil, started brightly. Sadio Mane, fresh from his Africa Cup of Nations triumph in January, nearly opened the scoring in the 14th minute but saw his effort go begging. The Senegalese striker’s energy was infectious, and Al Nassr pushed forward, determined to prove they could thrive even without their superstar.

Joao Felix, another marquee signing, came close with a right-footed shot from outside the box, only to be denied by Al Riyadh’s vigilant goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Al Nassr’s attacking intent was clear, but Al Riyadh, winless in their last 12 league games, were equally desperate to seize any opportunity for an upset. Their resilience kept the visitors at bay for much of the first half, but the breakthrough finally arrived five minutes before halftime. Mane, ever the big-game player, broke the deadlock with a terrific strike from the center of the box, sending the traveling fans into raptures and giving Al Nassr a 1-0 lead at the break.

With halftime stats favoring the visitors, the second half promised more fireworks. Al Riyadh, emboldened by the home crowd, pressed forward in search of an equalizer. Al Nassr, meanwhile, sought to control the tempo and protect their slender advantage. The match grew increasingly tense, with every tackle and pass carrying added weight. Joao Felix provided a scare for Al Nassr supporters when he went down momentarily with an injury, but the Portuguese forward soon returned to the pitch, much to the relief of coach Jorge Jesus.

As the clock ticked down, Al Riyadh’s Enes Sali squandered a golden chance to level the score, firing wide from a difficult angle in the 89th minute. It was a let-off for Al Nassr, who had looked a tad clumsy in the second half but managed to hold their nerve when it mattered most. Four minutes of added time only heightened the tension, but Al Nassr’s defense, marshaled by Iñigo Martinez and Mohamed Simakan, stood firm to preserve the clean sheet.

The final whistle brought a collective sigh of relief from the Al Nassr bench. The 1-0 victory, secured by Mane’s first-half heroics, temporarily vaulted Al Nassr to the top of the Saudi Pro League table—at least until Al Hilal’s result against Al Ahli was determined later that evening. For Al Riyadh, the defeat extended their winless streak and deepened their relegation worries, despite a spirited performance in front of their home supporters.

Off the field, however, the spotlight remained firmly on Ronaldo and the club’s future direction. "Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the squad. The Portuguese ace is reportedly unhappy with the club's inactivity in the winter transfer window," noted one live match report, echoing the broader discontent swirling around Al Nassr’s camp. The absence of Kingsley Coman from the lineup—a player who had scored in the reverse fixture earlier in the season—further underscored the squad’s current challenges.

Al Nassr’s victory, their fifth in a row, demonstrated the squad’s resilience and depth, but questions lingered. Can the team continue their title push without Ronaldo’s leadership and goals? Will the PIF respond to mounting pressure from players and fans to invest more aggressively in the squad? And perhaps most intriguingly, what does the future hold for one of football’s greatest icons in Saudi Arabia?

For now, the Big Yellow march on, their hopes of a league title still alive, their supporters dreaming of glory—and the rest of the football world watching closely as the next chapter unfolds.