Cristiano Ronaldo skips trip to Pakhtakor with Al Nassr amid security concerns
The 41-year-old Portugal star was among a number of players left out by coach Ange Postecoglou.
Cristiano Ronaldo did not travel for Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League fixture against Pakhtakor on Monday amid ongoing security concerns.
The 41-year-old Portugal star was among a number of players left out by coach Ange Postecoglou for the trip to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Postecoglou also rested Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan, telling a news conference he had made the decision “given the pressure of matches and the amount of travel involved”.
From the moments before kickoff to the smiles after the final whistle 🎥💛
Five goals, a Cristiano hat-trick and plenty you haven’t seen yet 👀
Inside our win over AlKholood 🍿 pic.twitter.com/aULNG9M0Ef
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) October 31, 2026
It came a week after Al Nassr’s match at home to Al Wasl was postponed, with the UAE club refusing to travel to due to the situation in Saudi Arabia.
Airports in the country have come under a series of attacks undertaken by Houthi rebels.
Last week Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday, taking him to nine goals in 12 appearances this season and on to 985 career strikes in his bid to reach 1,000.