Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury return overshadowed as Al-Nassr loses Joao Felix, Inigo Martinez, and six other key players for vital Al-Najma game

The anticipation surrounding Al-Nassr’s next league fixture after the FIFA break has intensified, with Cristiano Ronaldo finally returning to full fitness at a time when the club needs him most. His comeback arrives amid a tense title race, yet the spotlight also falls on teammates such as Joao Felix and Inigo Martinez, whose situations add complexity to the buildup. While Ronaldo’s presence restores confidence, early signs suggest that not everything is aligning smoothly for the league leaders.

The club now faces a mixture of optimism and uncertainty as it reaches a decisive phase of the season. Al-Nassr’s meeting with Al-Najma at Al Awwal Park comes at a moment where every point carries enormous weight. Ronaldo’s return has naturally dominated headlines, but whispers inside the dressing room hint at deeper challenges Jorge Jesus must navigate.

Even as the Portuguese captain steps back into full tactical sessions, the club hierarchy remains on edge about availability issues elsewhere. The introduction of further complications will only heighten the stakes surrounding Friday’s match. Al-Nassr is already balancing heavy expectations that come with leading the Saudi Pro League standings, and the contrast with Al-Najma’s struggles only sharpens the importance of fielding a stable lineup.

However, as the hours tick down to kickoff, attention has shifted to a different and unexpected storyline. The optimism generated by Ronaldo’s return is real. However, it will be tested immediately, because Al-Nassr will be without Joao Felix, Inigo Martinez, and six other key players, a blow that drastically reshapes the squad available for this crucial match.

Ronaldo to provide significant boost, but Al-Nassr suffers huge setback

Ronaldo rejoined full tactical training for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury after Al-Nassr’s 3-1 win over Al-Fayha. His comeback was confirmed after intensive work in Spain and Riyadh, with local reports, including Arriyadiyah, stating he is “fully fit and ready to return”. The timing is ideal for Jorge Jesus’s side, which sits firmly at the top of the league with 67 points, boasting a season of 22 wins, one draw, and only three defeats.

However, what began as Tuesday’s normal pre-match preparation shifted abruptly when multiple players were ruled out. Reports from Saudi journalist Ali Al-Anzi revealed that Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan missed training and appeared in the club’s medical clinic due to muscle pains.

The newspaper Arriyadiyah later confirmed Coman’s hamstring and calf discomfort and Simakan’s quadriceps issue, both requiring scans. To make matters worse for the club, Spanish veteran Inigo Martinez has not recovered from the hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined.

Al-Nassr set to be without up to eight players

The full list of absences is one of Al-Nassr’s worst of the season:

• Joao Felix — suspension
• Inigo Martinez — hamstring injury
• Kingsley Coman — calf and hamstring injury
• Mohamed Simakan — hamstring injury
• Raghed Al-Najjar — ACL injury
• Mubarak Al-Buainain — ACL injury
• Ayman Yahya — suspension
• Al-Amri — doubtful due to international-duty injury