Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Al-Nassr’s squad for their AFC Champions League Two trip to Istiklol in Tajikistan, signaling that the 40-year-old Portuguese superstar is unlikely to play a major role in Asia’s second-tier continental competition this season.
Al-Nassr fielded a rotated side for the clash, resting stars including Sadio Mane and Inigo Martinez, with Ronaldo also absent. Despite the changes, Joao Felix led the charge, scoring a penalty in the 12th minute. Mohamed Simakan doubled the lead just before halftime, giving Al-Nassr a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
In the second half, Mane and Ayman Yahya added further goals, with Mane finishing Felix’s assist in the 84th minute and Yahya sealing a 4-0 win in stoppage time.
Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus explained the decision to rest Ronaldo:
“He’s currently 40 years old, and we fear he might suffer injuries, that’s why I decided to exclude him. For matches outside Saudi Arabia, we decided to rest Ronaldo to preserve his fitness for upcoming matches.”
Despite Al-Nassr’s flawless group-stage record in AFC Champions League Two, Ronaldo has yet to feature in a single match. His absence has allowed other stars to shine, especially Felix.
After mixed spells in Europe with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, and AC Milan, Joao Felix has found a resurgence at Al-Nassr. The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals in 15 games, even outpacing Ronaldo across all competitions in recent months. Felix’s performances suggest he has become the new face of Al-Nassr’s attack, proving that the club can thrive even without their legendary forward.
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