On March 3, 2025, Al-Nassr faced Esteghlal in the first leg of the AFC Champions League knockout stage, drawing 0-0 at the Azadi Sports Complex. This match was notable not just for the outcome but also for the unexpected absence of star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who was left out due to the onus of Iranian law concerning personal conduct.
Ronaldo's withdrawal stemmed from significant legal concerns he faced if he traveled to Iran. The 38-year-old Portuguese superstar risked being reportedly subjected to 99 lashes—an extreme punishment allowed under Iranian law—due to his past actions when he interacted with single women during previous visits.
Specifically, in 2023, Ronaldo faced backlash for having embraced Fatemeh Hammami Nasrabadi, a local Iranian artist, during a prior visit. The unintended fallout from this innocent interaction was rooted in Iran's strict legal code, which forbids men from touching women outside their immediate family—especially if the women are unmarried. With potential legal repercussions hanging over him, Ronaldo's safety was deemed too precarious to allow him to travel with the team this time.
According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, the club initially sought to have the match played at a neutral venue to circumvent such risks, but their request was denied. This lack of safety guarantees prompted Al-Nassr's management to keep Ronaldo at home, prioritizing his welfare over the match.
Despite Ronaldo's absence, Al-Nassr maintained control of the match against Esteghlal, outpacing the Iranian team for significant portions of the game. They created various opportunities, yet failed to capitalize, thanks to the heroic efforts of Esteghlal's goalie, Hosseini, who thwarted several attempts. Al-Nassr's strikers, Durán and Mané, missed key chances to secure the lead, and as the match concluded, frustration grew at their inability to score.
The absence of Ronaldo certainly left its mark. The challenge now is to rally the team for their next fixture, which is scheduled just days later on March 7 when they will face Al-Shabab at home as part of the Saudi Pro League.
With Ronaldo still dealing with the fallout from his interaction with Hammami Nasrabadi, Al-Nassr’s upcoming matches are set against the backdrop of the player’s remarkable career achievements. At 40 years of age, Ronaldo leads the Saudi league as its top scorer with 17 goals, having reached his landmark 50 goals for Al-Nassr earlier this year.
Since entering the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo has continued to break records. He has amassed 923 career goals across 1,264 matches and maintains aspirations of reaching the elusive 1,000-goal milestone, something only Pelé officially attained. To realize this ambition, Ronaldo would need to continue at his current scoring pace for 72 additional matches.
Yet, with the added pressure of potential legal issues whenever he visits Iran, the reality of sustaining such performance levels could be complicated. Ronaldo's team management continues to monitor the situation closely, as the decisions made now may have broader consequences not only for his career but also for Al-Nassr’s ambitions.
Looking forward, Al-Nassr is prepared for their subsequent matches without Ronaldo for now, hoping to land victories to secure their standing both domestically and internationally. The return leg against Esteghlal on March 10 also becomes all the more pivotal, as the team seeks to navigate the tricky waters of international play amid the player’s complex circumstances.
For now, the anticipation remains about how Al-Nassr will adapt to their star player’s absence and the tactical changes they may implement to stay competitive without him.