Breaking: Ronaldo goes on strike, refuses to play for Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially withdrawn from Al Nassr's lineup for the match against Al Riyadh in protest of unfair investment policies by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Al Nassr fans received shocking news: Cristiano Ronaldo will not participate in the crucial match against Al Riyadh. Initially, many speculated he was being rested ahead of his 41st birthday on February 5. However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano dismissed all health-related rumors by confirming:

"His absence is unrelated to any physical issues, workload, or fitness management."

This immediately sparked suspicions of an internal rebellion within the Arab club where Ronaldo is regarded as an absolute icon.

According to A Bola citing insider sources from Al Nassr, the real reason CR7 refused to play is his deep dissatisfaction with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) — which manages the four biggest clubs in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo feels Al Nassr is being "neglected" and unfairly treated compared to their rivals, especially Al Hilal.

While Al Nassr is striving to catch up at the top, PIF continues to pour huge funds into strengthening Al Hilal during this winter transfer window at the request of coach Simone Inzaghi.

Ronaldo believes that focusing all investment on the leading team undermines the league’s competitiveness and directly hampers his and his teammates’ championship ambitions.

Ronaldo’s absence is a major professional loss. Currently, he is Al Nassr’s top scorer with 17 goals in 18 matches, just one behind the leading scorer Ivan Toney (Al Ahli).

In the standings, Al Nassr is in second place, level on points with Al Ahli (43 points) and only 3 points behind leaders Al Hilal. This is the most sensitive moment of the season, and the captain — who has scored 117 goals in 133 appearances for the club — choosing to "strike" delivers a severe blow to the team’s title aspirations.

Ronaldo’s protest is not just about one match; it poses a tough challenge for PIF on how to manage superstar players. Without an early resolution, the possibility of Ronaldo leaving Saudi Arabia before his contract ends is very real, especially since he always demands fairness and maximum competitiveness in his career.