Al Nassr and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a spell on the sidelines after scans confirmed a knee tendon injury, ruling him out of crucial upcoming fixtures for both club and country.
The 41-year-old forward sustained the injury during Al Nassr’s recent Saudi Pro League clash against Al-Fayha on Saturday, February 28. Ronaldo initially requested to be substituted late in the game, and while head coach Jorge Jesus initially downplayed the issue as minor, subsequent medical assessments have revealed a more significant problem.
Following tests conducted on Monday, Al Nassr confirmed the diagnosis in an official statement.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has been diagnosed with a knee tendon injury after the last game against Al-Fayha,” the club announced. “He has started a rehabilitation program immediately and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.”
The injury is a significant blow for both the Saudi Arabian club and the Portuguese national team. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is expected to be sidelined for a period of two to four weeks.
This timeline means Ronaldo will be unavailable for Al Nassr’s upcoming domestic fixtures. More critically, he is set to miss Portugal’s international friendlies against Mexico and the United States, scheduled for March 28 and March 31 respectively.
The development is a major concern for Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez, who is in the process of finalizing his squad for the international window. While the injury deprives the team of its captain and talisman for these preparation matches, reports indicate that Ronaldo is still expected to be fully fit for the 2026 World Cup later in the year.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Ronaldo’s absence leaves a considerable void in attack for both Al Nassr and the Portuguese national side. All focus will now be on his recovery as he begins his rehabilitation program.
