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Al Nassr FC

Summary

Al Nassr begin their Saudi Pro League title defence under new head coach Ange Postecoglou with a significant absentee from the start. Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the club's opening two fixtures of the 2026-27 season, with reports confirming his absence is due to his wedding to Georgina Rodriguez. The Portuguese captain only returned from the World Cup after Portugal's exit to Spain in the round of 16, and his delayed return to training has raised questions about his physical readiness for the new campaign.

The club's pre-season has been complicated by financial pressure off the pitch. Reports suggest Al Nassr carry debts of around 800 million Saudi riyals, yet the club still completed the signing of Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa from Real Mallorca. The Saudi Pro League held a press conference to clarify the financial regulations that permitted the deal despite the club's recorded obligations.

In the goalkeeping department, Al Nassr lost their pursuit of Saudi international Mohammed Al Owais, who returned to rivals Al Hilal. The club responded by securing a contract renewal with Raghd Al-Najjar, while also working to resolve the long-running situation around Nawaf Al-Aqidi, a goalkeeper whose future has caused friction during multiple transfer windows. Al Hilal's capture of Al Owais represents a setback in an area the club had targeted for reinforcement.

Al Nassr host Al Fateh at Al-Awwal Park on August 15, sitting one point clear of Al Hilal in the standings from last season, with the defending champions eager to start strongly despite the disruption surrounding their squad.

Al Nassr FC Overview

Nacho backs Ronaldo to hit 1,000 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of footballing history has received significant public backing from his long-time former team-mate Nacho Fernandez. The veteran defender, who also plies his trade in Saudi Arabia, believes the Portuguese superstar is destined to reach the elusive 1,000-goal milestone.

‘If Jones can become an actor!’ - Ronaldo backed for Hollywood

Cristiano Ronaldo is being backed to make the move into Hollywood movies once his playing career comes to a close, with Mikael Silvestre telling GOAL that CR7 should have no problem cracking that industry “if Vinnie Jones can become an actor”. There is no indication that the Portuguese GOAT is ready to head for Los Angeles just yet, but a new challenge will be sought at some point in the not too distant future.

Ange Postecoglou Nottingham Forest 2025-26

Embarrassment for Ange as Al-Nassr lose to Benfica B without Ronaldo

Ange Postecoglou's opening game in charge of Al-Nassr ended in embarrassment after the Saudi champions were beaten by Benfica's B team in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Lisbon. The result offered an early test for the Australian coach as he begins building his squad for the new campaign, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing the pre-season opener.

Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi 2026 World Cup Portugal Argentina

Will Messi or Ronaldo grace 2030 World Cup? Future prediction

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are likely to have taken in their “last dance” at the World Cup finals, former France international Mikael Silvestre has told GOAL. Two all-time greats featured at the 2026 event, as their evergreen exploits thrill audiences across the globe, but Argentina and Portugal may be without their respective GOATs when the 2030 tournament rolls around.

Ronaldo in ‘different’ MLS franchise to Messi would ‘make sense’

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have never been team-mates, but Mikael Silvestre has told GOAL that it would “make sense” for two GOATs to be kept apart in MLS if CR7 were to join his eternal rival in the United States. There has been talk of a remarkable union being pieced together at Inter Miami, but not everybody is convinced that a couple of iconic figures should grace the same team.