Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Al-Nassr Opening Matches After Wedding

Cristiano Ronaldo will not be on the pitch when Al-Nassr launch their title defence. He will be on honeymoon instead.

Saudi outlet Al-Yaum reports that the Portuguese star is set to miss Al-Nassr’s first two competitive fixtures of the 2026–2027 campaign: the Roshn League opener against Al-Fateh next Saturday and the King’s Cup round of 32 clash with Al-Diriyah three days later.

The reason is as personal as it gets. According to the report, Ronaldo has tied the knot with long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez, with the ceremony taking place on Saturday. The timing of the wedding means he will sit out both early-season matches.

A 32-Day Absence and Growing Questions

Ronaldo has not been seen in Al-Nassr colours since Portugal’s 2026 World Cup exit on 6 July, when Spain knocked them out 1–0 in the round of 16 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Under standard regulations, he was entitled to a 21-day break after the World Cup. The club and supporters expected him back as that grace period expired. The return never came.

He skipped Al-Nassr’s overseas training camp, which concluded last Wednesday, and did not appear in any of the sessions held across the three locations chosen for pre-season: Riyadh, Abha and Lisbon. The absence has now stretched to 32 days, a gap that grows more conspicuous with every passing session.

For a player who has built a career on relentless availability and obsessive preparation, the sight of Al-Nassr working through pre-season without their captain has been jarring.

Champions Under Pressure

The timing could hardly be more delicate. Al-Nassr enter the new season as defending Saudi League champions, having snapped a seven-year title drought last term with Ronaldo at the heart of the resurgence. The club are not just looking to retain their domestic crown; they are also targeting a first-ever AFC Champions League Elite triumph.

Those ambitions were built on the assumption that Ronaldo would again be the reference point in attack from day one. Instead, the opening week of the season will force Al-Nassr to improvise without the man who transformed their fortunes.

The league curtain-raiser against Al-Fateh now becomes an early test of the squad’s depth and adaptability. The quick turnaround to the King’s Cup tie with Al-Diriyah adds another layer of risk. One misstep in a knockout competition can haunt a season.

Ronaldo will rejoin a team already in motion, a campaign already under way, and a fanbase expecting the same ferocious standards he helped restore. How quickly he and Al-Nassr can rediscover their rhythm after this unusual start may define whether last season’s breakthrough was a turning point or a brief interruption in that seven-year drought.