Cristiano Ronaldo‘s return to Al-Nassr has taken another unexpected turn, with the Portuguese superstar set to spend more time away from the club after a fresh decision from Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff. The delay comes as Ronaldo continues to enjoy his extended summer break following Portugal’s World Cup exit, leaving supporters wondering exactly when they will see their captain back in action.
The 41-year-old has remained at the center of attention despite being away from the pitch, with his holiday, family life and future plans generating plenty of discussion. Now, however, a new report has provided a clearer picture of what Postecoglou and Al-Nassr have decided regarding Ronaldo’s return.
According to 365Scores Arabic, Al-Nassr’s coaching staff, led by Postecoglou, have decided to give Ronaldo additional rest rather than rushing him back into competitive action.
The Portuguese forward is therefore expected to miss Al-Nassr’s opening Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Fateh and the King’s Cup meeting with Al-Diriyah. The decision means the 41-year-old will have more time to recover from what has been an unusually demanding year.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr reacts
Ronaldo’s extended break follows Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The national team lost narrowly to Spain in the Round of 16, bringing an emotional end to the striker’s international career and giving him another reason to step away from soccer before beginning preparations for the new club season.
Ronaldo’s comeback date finally comes into focus
The fresh 365Scores Arabic update provides the clearest indication yet of when supporters can expect to see Ronaldo back in an Al-Nassr shirt. His return is now expected to come against Al-Riyadh on August 21, meaning the club’s captain will surely miss the first two competitive fixtures before making his comeback.
The decision represents a change from earlier expectations that Ronaldo would return to training relatively soon after completing his post-World Cup recovery period. Instead, Postecoglou has opted to prioritize additional rest, allowing his biggest star to return when he is fully ready for the campaign ahead.
Al-Nassr’s preseason preparations have been taking place in Lisbon under Postecoglou, but Ronaldo is not expected to join the squad during the overseas training camp. The camp officially concluded on August 5, with the squad then scheduled to return to Riyadh.
That leaves Ronaldo with a relatively short period to work with his teammates before his eventual competitive return. Still, the club appears willing to sacrifice an early appearance from its captain in exchange for giving him the time needed to prepare properly.
Wedding reports create more confusion
Ronaldo’s extended absence has also been linked to his personal life, with reports claiming that the superstar had been granted leave to celebrate his wedding to Georgina Rodriguez.
However, those reports quickly became complicated after Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro, publicly pushed back against claims that the couple was getting married. “Why do people think Ronaldo is getting married when he’s never even announced it himself?” she wrote on Instagram, before questioning why the media continued to speculate about the couple’s plans.
Ronaldo himself appeared to find the situation amusing. After a post claimed journalists were waiting in Madeira to photograph his supposed wedding, the Al-Nassr captain responded with a series of laughing emojis.
The confusion reached another level when hundreds of people reportedly gathered outside a church in Madeira expecting the player’s wedding to take place. The anticipated ceremony did not happen, adding another bizarre chapter to the ongoing speculation surrounding Ronaldo and Rodriguez.
