The Saudi side are due to face Pakhtakor in the Uzbek capital, but Ronaldo will not be part of the travelling squad. Head coach Ange Postecoglou has also decided to leave out French winger Kingsley Coman and defender Mohamed Simakan, citing the physical demands of the match schedule and the journey.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Uzbekistan, Postecoglou explained that the decision was intended to manage the players’ workload.
“We have rested them after taking into consideration the demands of the match schedule and the long journey,” he said.
Ronaldo’s absence comes at a particularly interesting point in his career, as he continues to approach the remarkable milestone of 1,000 goals. The 41-year-old scored a hat-trick in a Saudi Pro League match last week, taking his combined career tally for club and country to 985 goals. He now needs just 15 more to reach the landmark.
Despite his age, Ronaldo remains one of Al Nassr’s most influential attacking players. His goalscoring record, experience and ability to influence important matches have made him central to the club’s ambitions. His omission, alongside those of Coman and Simakan, will therefore test the depth of the squad as Al Nassr seek a positive result in Uzbekistan.
The Saudi club have also struggled to make the desired impression in this season’s Asian competition. Having entered the tournament with hopes of securing their first continental title, they currently sit ninth in the Western Region standings. They are the lowest-placed of Saudi Arabia’s five representatives in the competition.
The tournament features 32 clubs, divided equally between the Eastern and Western regions, with 16 teams in each. The top eight sides from both regions will progress to the knockout stage. Al Nassr must therefore improve their position if they are to remain firmly in contention for qualification.
Postecoglou, however, believes the team have made progress after a difficult start to the campaign. He acknowledged that preparations had not been ideal at the beginning of the season but said the squad were gradually overcoming those difficulties.
“The start was difficult, but we have overcome the limitations in our preparations and the fact that we were not fully ready at the beginning of the season. We are now in a good position,” he said.
Away from the pitch, security concerns in the region have also disrupted Al Nassr’s continental campaign.
Last week, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) postponed the club’s scheduled fixture against UAE side Al Wasl after the visiting team declined to travel to Riyadh because of security concerns. The decision created further uncertainty around the competition’s schedule and added to the logistical challenges facing the Saudi club.
There had already been an earlier disruption on 12 October, when the kick-off time of another match at Al Nassr’s home ground was delayed by an hour. The adjustment followed reports of a missile attack by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, prompting concerns over the security situation.
These developments have highlighted how regional instability can affect professional football beyond the immediate sporting contest. Travel arrangements, match scheduling and the safety of players and officials can all become significant considerations when security conditions deteriorate.
For Al Nassr, the immediate challenge is to collect valuable points against Pakhtakor and improve their position in the Western Region standings. Without Ronaldo, Coman and Simakan, the responsibility will fall on the remaining players to deliver a strong performance.
Ronaldo’s pursuit of 1,000 career goals will remain a major talking point, but his immediate priority is likely to be returning to action in good physical condition. Al Nassr, meanwhile, must balance the management of their key players with the need to revive their continental campaign and keep their hopes of a first Asian title alive.
