Cristiano Ronaldo makes goalscoring Al-Nassr return after three-match absence as Portugal boss Roberto Martinez praises 'high standards'
Published 15/02/2026 at 09:35 GMT
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Cristiano Ronaldo had spent three matches on the sidelines at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr amid reports that he was unhappy with the direction of the club under the Public Investment Fund. However, the 41-year-old returned to action on Saturday as he captained them to a 2-0 win against Al Fateh, scoring for his team on 18 minutes. Al-Nassr are currently one point behind Al-Hilal in the league.
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Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his return to the pitch for Al-Nassr after missing three games following reports of unhappiness at the club.
The 41-year-old was said to be dissatisfied with the way the club’s owners, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, treated different clubs in its stable.
He was believed to be unhappy that his former Real Madrid team-mate, Karim Benzema, had joined rival side Al-Hilal, who sit one point ahead of Al-Nassr at the top of the Saudi Pro League table.
Ronaldo's goal was his 19th in 23 appearances for the side this year, and his 118th in 134 games overall for Al-Nassr.
He is yet to win the league there since his move for the 2022/23 season, winning only the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023.
His return came on Saturday as he captained the team in their 2-0 victory against Al Fateh, and scored after 18 minutes.
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The former Manchester United star signed a new contract last June, but is reported to have a £43 million release clause and there had been suggestions he would look to move on in the summer.
He is set to feature in the 2026 World Cup in North America for the Portuguese national team, managed by Roberto Martinez. He has 143 goals in 226 appearances for Portugal so far.
‘Very easy’ to manage - Martinez praises Ronaldo’s ‘high standards’
Speaking to the BBC, Martinez was asked about how he found managing the veteran forward, with the Spaniard praising Ronaldo’s professionalism, and continued effectiveness on the pitch.
He said: "Very easy [to manage], because of his high standards, his expectations of how the work should be done and his commitment to the game.
"He truly is an example of what you should do to represent Portugal and the national team. And now he's adapted, obviously, after 21 years in the national team - he's adjusted.
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"He's a goalscorer, he's an important player for us, and it's the player that he is now that is important for me.
"As a national team coach, a player that has scored 25 goals in the last 30 international games... it's not that he's playing because of what he's done in the past, it's what he's done now."
Asked if he could continue playing much longer, Martinez said that the decision was one for the player to take.
He explained: "Well, we got all the stats. If you were going to analyse a player that is dropping at physical level, that's not the case. His physical stats are of a player that could go on and on and on.
"I think it's more a question of when he'll feel that is the right time. I think he's a player that is very critical with himself. When he doesn't see that he can help the team, he'll be the one that will decide when to stop."
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