What is the reason for Ronaldo's absence from the match between Al-Nasr and Pakhtakor in Uzbekistan?

To follow the Saudi Football Channel on WhatsApp from Ofoq News in Arabic, click here - Enge Postecoglou, the technical director of Al-Nassr Saudi Club, announced the absence of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo from facing the Uzbek club Pakhtakor Tashkent, scheduled at the latter’s stadium, on Monday, in the third round of the elite AFC Champions League. In a press conference held on Sunday, Postecoglou said that Ronaldo’s absence was not due to injury, but rather he preferred to rest him, given the pressure of the match schedule and the fatigue of travel.

Enge Postecoglou revealed that Cristiano's teammates, defender Mohamed Simakan and winger Kingsley Coman, were also absent from the match for the same reason. The Portuguese star played two matches in the Asian competition this season 2026/27, during which he scored one goal.

The 41-year-old player succeeded in scoring a hat-trick in the Al-Alamy team’s last match against Al-Khuloud, which ended with the former winning 3/5, in the Roshen League.