Days of intense scrutiny and internal discussions have finally ended with Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike officially ending at Al-Nassr. There are several confirmed reports that the Portuguese star has gone back to first-team training after a settlement with the ownership of the club.
The 41-year-old was absent from both the last two Saudi Pro League matches of Al-Nassr amid mounting frustration in internal matters of management. The people close to the situation said that the dispute was about the issues of governance and not about football issues.
The dissatisfaction with the club’s operational structure and the strategy of transfers in January provoked the strike of Cristiano Ronaldo. This, too, was coupled with the complaints of delayed payment of salaries to club employees, leading to tension in the backdrop.
The majority owner of Al-Nassr, the Public Investment Fund, which is the majority owner of Saudi Arabia, intervened to solve the situation. The outstanding staff salaries were paid, and the power was given back to the top management level, such as the CEO and the sporting director.
Those steps led to Ronaldo being reintroduced into full training, and he is currently expected to play in the Saudi Pro League this weekend. He will be free to play the away league match with Al-Fateh on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
The forward will, however, not play in the midweek AFC Champions League Two game against Arkadag. It has been reported that the decision has been associated with travel requirements and priorities in domestic-based competition.
In the title race, Al-Nassr won the league title in a row when Ronaldo was away, which put them under pressure. Club insiders admitted that the team is resilient but emphasized that their team leader (the captain) played a crucial role on and off the pitch.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike resolution is considered an inside event that is a milestone to the stability of Al-Nassr’s season. Senior personalities feel that the incident has strengthened better lines of authority and responsibility in the club.
Although the scandal took place only briefly, Ronaldo will continue to feature in the plans of Al-Nassr in the 2025/26 season. He has scored 18 goals and three assists in all competitions, which testifies to his continued influence.
Such statistics will make him one of the brightest players in the competition, scoring 17 goals among 18 appearances in the league. He is likely to be available and boost the drive of Al-Nassr at the crucial stage of the season.
The club or even Ronaldo himself has not been officially confirmed on it after the reports. At least, at this point, every reason indicates that the high-profile standoff has been solved, and attention has gone back to football issues.
