Cristiano Ronaldo was a notable absentee from Al-Nassr ‘s squad for their AFC Champions League last-16 first-leg match against Esteghlal in Tehran. While Ronaldo was left out, other star players including Jhon Duran, Sadio Mane, and Marcelo Brozovic traveled with the team.
Al-Nassr manager Stefano Pioli clarified that Ronaldo’s omission was due to a “physical problem,” although he downplayed its severity. “He had a physical problem, but I wouldn’t say it was 100% a big problem, but we preferred him not to be in the game,” Pioli told reporters.
The club had reportedly requested a change of venue for the match, citing previous issues Ronaldo experienced in Tehran. According to the DPA news agency (via The Daily Mail), Al-Nassr wrote to the AFC, stating, “Given Ronaldo’s bad experience in Tehran last year, the match should be played on neutral ground.” The AFC, however, did not grant the request.
Ronaldo’s previous visit to Tehran in September 2023, for a Champions League match against Persepolis, was marked by significant fan attention. Although the match was played behind closed doors due to a stadium ban, large crowds gathered at the Al-Nassr team hotel, requiring police intervention. The club reportedly considered this incident a “big problem” for the player.
This will be Al-Nassr’s third match in Iran.
The 40-year-old Portuguese star is expected to return to action on March 7th when Al-Nassr face Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League. His absence from the Champions League tie raises questions about the nature of his “physical problem” and the extent to which security concerns influenced the decision to leave him out of the squad.
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