Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Al Nassr’s Asian Champions League Opener Due to Viral Infection
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Al Nassr’s opening match of the Asian Champions League against Iraq’s Al Shorta due to a viral infection, the club announced on Sunday.
The Portuguese star, who has been a major signing for Al Nassr, was diagnosed with the infection and has been advised by the team’s doctor to rest at home. As a result, Ronaldo will not be traveling with the team to Iraq. The club expressed their hope for his speedy recovery in a statement shared on social media.
Ronaldo, a former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward, had a challenging start with Al Nassr, as his previous attempt in the competition ended in a quarter-final penalty shootout loss to the eventual champions, Al Ain.
This year, the competition, now rebranded as the Asian Champions League Elite, features a revamped format. Al Nassr and other Saudi Arabian teams, having invested significantly in stars like Ronaldo and Neymar, are set to be strong contenders. England’s Ivan Toney recently joined Al Ahli from Brentford for over $45 million, adding to the high-profile roster of players in the league.
The new format includes a mini knockout tournament from the quarter-finals onward, with the champions set to win at least $12 million. The competition begins on Monday with a new structure featuring 24 teams divided into East and West groups, each playing eight different opponents in the group stage.
