Cristiano Ronaldo has chosen to lift his boycott of Al Nassr matches, according to sources who have informed ESPN Brasil.
The 41-year-old forward missed two matches for the Saudi Pro League club — specifically, last Friday’s 2-0 victory over Al Ittihad and the previous week’s win against Al Riyadh.
This Wednesday, Al Nassr will also compete at Arkadag in the Asian Champions League Two.
According to ESPN, Ronaldo’s absence from the two matches was due to frustration with the PIF (Saudi Arabia’s Sovereign Investment Fund) and its role in the club’s transfer dealings.
Ronaldo’s rivalry with Al Hilal, also 75% owned by the PIF, intensified after they signed Karim Benzema, his former teammate from Real Madrid, during the January transfer window.
Reports suggest Ronaldo’s decision to return came after the PIF addressed some of his primary concerns.
He stated he would resume playing once Al Nassr’s overdue salaries were settled, and the club’s management regained its authority.
This restoration includes the reinstatement of Simão Coutinho (sporting director) and José Semedo (CEO), who had been suspended by the PIF, as per sources.
Thus far this season, Ronaldo has played 22 matches for Al Nassr, scoring 18 goals and providing three assists.
Al Nassr currently ranks second in the Saudi Pro League, trailing their arch-rivals Al Hilal by just one point.
Last Thursday, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement reminding Ronaldo that no player has the authority to influence decisions beyond their own team.
“The Saudi Pro League operates on a foundational principle: each club functions independently under shared regulations,” the league affirmed.
“Clubs maintain their own boards, executives, and football leadership. Decisions concerning recruitment, expenditure, and strategy reside with those clubs, under a financial framework designed for sustainability and competitive equilibrium. This framework applies uniformly across the league.”