Cristiano Ronaldo missed another Al-Nassr game on Wednesday as the Portugal international was left out of the squad for the 1-0 win in the AFC Champions League Two against Turkmenistan side Arkadag. The victory ensured the Saudi giants reached the quarter-finals of the competition, having won the first leg by the same scoreline. Manager Jorge Jesus named a weakened starting XI, with none of his big hitters playing from the beginning.
Al-Nassr beat Turkmenistan club Arkadag 1-0 in the first leg of their AFC Champions League 2 Round of 16 tie, doing so without Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal superstar is set to return to action this weekend after missing their last three fixtures, but without him, they managed to earn an advantage they will take back to Saudi Arabia, thanks to Abdullah Al-Hamdan's strike.
Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly ready to end his strike at Al-Nassr as he prepares to return for the Saudi Arabian club. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar had refused to play for his side in protest at their transfer dealings in January, missing the team's last two matches, but Al-Nassr have now pencilled in the date for their superstar's return.
The NWSL's rule of 4 is where each club is allowed a maximum of four players under the age of 18, between their private entry list and roster.
What is the average salary of an NWSL player?
The average wage an NWSL player is $65,000 a year. The minimum salary is reported at $36,400, with the top players earning up to $400,000 annually.
What does SEI mean in soccer?
In soccer, often used within the WNSL, the acronyom SEI stands for Season Ending Injury.
Who is the 15 year old that signed to the NWSL?
In March 2023, Chloe Ricketts signed a three-year deal to play, when she was just 15 years and 283 days old. This made her the youngest ever player to sign an NWSL contract.