Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo was absent as Al Nassr advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Two with a 1-0 win over Arkadag FC of Turkmenistan that secured a 2-0 aggregate victory. The 41-year-old Ronaldo, who returned last Saturday after missing three straight games amid reports of discontent with the club's management, watched from the stands on Wednesday. According to domestic media, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has yet to win a major trophy since signing with the Riyadh club in December 2022, is being rested for Saudi Pro League games and the latter stages of the AFC Champions League. Al Nassr will face Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates in the first leg of the quarterfinals of Asia's second-tier competition on March 3. In the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite, Japan and South Korea sent three and two teams respectively to the round of 16 in the eastern zone. The top eight from each of the two 12-team groups go to the next stage. Johor Darul Tazim of Malaysi

Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to win a major trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Nassr will be hoping the 41-year-old Portuguese star returns to action on Wednesday to help the Riyadh club move closer to silverware. Al-Nassr takes on Arkadag of Turkmenistan with a place in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League Two on the line. Ronaldo hasn't played any part in Al-Nassr's most recent two games in the Saudi Pro League amid reports he was unhappy with the way the club is being funded, particularly after watching rival Al-Hilal sign Karim Benzema in last month's transfer window. Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli are all majority owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. In a statement, the SPL outlined that no player is bigger than the club or the league. "The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules," the league said. "Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival

Ronaldo's agitation grew as it seemed that his club Al Nassr was unwilling to push forward with the financial muscle that could have made them competitive against other top teams in the region.

The last time Cristiano Ronaldo faced Lionel Messi in an international football match was back in November. 2014 when both Argentina and Portugal played an international friendly at Old Trafford.

FIFA clarified that any comparable misconduct within the next year would automatically activate the remaining two matches of the ban.

The dismissal guarantees Ronaldo will miss Portugal's final qualifier against Armenia and could face a three-match suspension for violent conduct.

Portugal will be without key attackers Pedro Neto and Pedro Gonçalves, who have returned to their clubs, Chelsea and Sporting CP, due to injury.

When the two sides met earlier in Goa, Brison Fernandes' heroics were not enough as Al-Nassr edged out the Gaurs 2-1 at the Fatorda Stadium.

With trademark composure, Ronaldo timed his run perfectly, guiding the ball past Varela from close range to seal the 2-0 win, and write another line in football history.

The England captain found the net in Bayern Munich's 4-0 Champions League victory over Club Brugge on Wednesday night, tapping home from close range in the 14th minute.

At 40, Ronaldo continues to defy age with his performances for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, recently signing a contract extension that will keep him at the club beyond his 42nd birthday.

Portugal appeared to be in control for most of the match, but was left frustrated by Hungary's persistence

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Norway beat Israel 5-0, while Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in Portugal's 1-0 win over Ireland in World Cup qualifying.

There were no major shocks in Roberto Martinez's squad selection, with João Cancelo the only notable absentee due to injury from the group named in September.

The wealth manager was also listed as a director in Ronaldo's Pestana CR7 hotel in Manchester, the Northern UK city where the young Ronaldo rose to global stardom playing for Manchester United

Ronaldo's strike also helped his side overturn an early deficit before João Cancelo's late winner sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory

Portugal, under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, have made a strong start to their qualification campaign, securing dominant victories over Armenia and Hungary.

Cristiano Ronaldo's quest to play in a record sixth World Cup began in spectacular fashion with two goals as Portugal made a winning start to its qualifying campaign by routing Armenia 5-0. Ronaldo's goals extended his record as the highest scorer in men's international football to 140 and underlined his enduring motivation to keep setting benchmarks before his storied career comes to an end. The 40-year-old soccer great has recently signed a new contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and led Portugal to victory at the UEFA Nations League last summer. The World Cup is the one major trophy that eludes him leaving him behind his great rival Lionel Messi, who lifted soccer's biggest prize with Argentina in 2022. Next year would likely be Ronaldo's last chance to win it when the tournament is staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Like him, Messi would also be playing at a sixth World Cup setting the pair apart from any other player, with a host of names having appeared in

The feat adds to Ronaldo's remarkable tallies with Real Madrid (450), Manchester United (145), and Juventus (101).

Kingsley Coman is leaving Bayern Munich after a trophy-filled decade to join up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Bayern announced the transfer late Friday. Kicker magazine reported a fee of up to 35 million euros (USD 41 million) for the French winger. Coman, who scored Bayern's winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 Champions League final, will be part of a star-studded forward lineup with Ronaldo, fellow new signing Joo Flix and Coman's former Bayern teammate Sadio Man. Al-Nassr is looking to improve after finishing third in the Saudi Pro League last season and signed Ronaldo to a two-year contract extension in June. Former Barcelona defender Iigo Martnez joined on a free transfer last week. Coman's departure from Bayern comes two weeks after the German champion signed Luis Daz from Liverpool, intensifying Coman's competition for places. He got a fond farewell from Bayern coach Vincent Kompany after they won the Bundesliga together last ...