Cristiano Ronaldo can have a closing shot at stretching his lead over the likes of Karim Benzema and Ivan Toney within the Saudi Professional League golden boot race when the Al-Nassr captain returns in opposition to Al-Khaleej on Monday (17:10 GMT).
On the identical night as Ronaldo’s former membership Manchester United face Tottenham within the Europa League closing, the 2007/08 Premier League golden boot winner with the Crimson Devils is in his present membership’s beginning line-up after three video games out.
The sport is Al-Nassr’s closing residence match of a season through which they’ll end and not using a trophy and no larger than third. Ronaldo missed coaching on Tuesday for private causes, in accordance with Al-Riyadh.
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Why didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo play for Al Nassr?
Al-Nassr have had little to play for through the closing stretch of their marketing campaign, with champions Al-Ittihad lengthy past their attain and their AFC Champions League marketing campaign ending courtesy of a 3-2 residence loss in opposition to J League strugglers Kawasaki within the semi-finals on April 30.
Ronaldo was rested earlier than the sport in opposition to Kawasaki however didn’t immediately contribute to a purpose throughout that match or in Al-Nassr’s subsequent 3-2 residence defeat in opposition to Al-Ittihad.
5-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo missed Al-Nassr’s 9-0 win at Al-Akhdoud on Might 12 due to a “lack of readiness”, the outlet reported at the time.
Former Manchester Metropolis common Aymeric Laporte, who joined Al-Nassr from the Cityzens for £23.6 million in August 2023 however has now been disregarded of their final 4 matches, can be stated to have been coaching individually due to “tensions” with supervisor Stefano Pioli whereas contemplating a number of affords from golf equipment together with Marseille, who sealed Champions League qualification and no less than a top-three place in France on Saturday.
🗒 || Beginning lineup for right now’s match pic.twitter.com/TblwkkT72o
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 21, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo damage: ‘No drawback’
Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez named the 40-year-old in his 27-man squad on Tuesday for the Nations League semi-final conflict in opposition to Germany in Munich on June 4 (20:00).
Ronaldo is out of contract at Al-Nassr on the finish of the season, resulting in rumours of his potential departure – however Martinez shut down any hypothesis in regards to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s bodily situation.
“Relating to Cristiano’s health, he’s obtainable to play,” Martinez stated through the squad announcement. “There’s no drawback.”
Portugal’s all-time main scorer has remained a menace in entrance of purpose this time period, netting 33 objectives in 39 matches throughout all competitions for Al-Nassr.
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Al Nassr vs Al Khaleej
Jhon Duran – signed from Villa for £65 million in January – and two-time African Footballer of the Yr Sadio Mane joined Ronaldo as Pioli’s chosen beginning attackers in opposition to Al-Taawoun, who began the night in tenth.
Al-Nassr are assured to complete fifth if they don’t match Al-Ahli’s ends in their closing two video games of the season.
Their closing sport of the season is away to relegation-threatened Al-Fateh on Might 26 (19:00).
Saudi Professional League golden boot 24/25
The winner of the golden boot final season, Ronaldo’s 23 league objectives put him two forward of Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema, Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney and Al-Shabab’s Abderrazak Hamdallah earlier than kick-off.
Julian Quinones, of Al-Qadsiah, is on 20 objectives, whereas Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic has 18 and Quinones team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is tied on 17 with Mitrovic strike associate Marcos Leonardo.
Ronaldo has gone two appearances with out netting, final scoring throughout a 4-1 win away to Japanese facet Yokohama within the AFC Champions League on April 26.
