Cristiano Ronaldo has landed himself in controversy once again after reportedly going on strike at Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. The Portuguese superstar has missed the club’s last two matches, sparking widespread debate about his future.

Ronaldo was absent from Al-Nassr’s derby clash against Al-Riyadh after ruling himself out in protest over how funds are distributed among clubs in Saudi football. Although he later returned to training, he also did not feature in the top-of-the-table clash against Al-Ittihad, further fuelling speculation that all is not well.

With Ronaldo missing key games, questions are now being raised about whether his record-breaking contract could be terminated early. The deal, which runs until 2027, is believed to include a release clause that could be activated this summer. Reports have also linked him with a possible return to Europe or even a shock move to MLS side Inter Miami, where he could join long-time rival Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo faces criticism

Ronaldo’s actions have drawn strong criticism within Saudi Arabia. Walid Al-Faraj, one of the most respected voices in Saudi football, did not hold back while speaking to Portuguese outlet A Bola. He reminded Ronaldo that no individual player is bigger than the league.

“Cristiano Ronaldo needs to know his place. This country is called Saudi Arabia, not Ronaldo’s Arabia. He confuses being an ambassador with being a manager. He is an employee who earns a huge salary and must respect the league or leave,” Al-Faraj said.

Al-Faraj compared the situation to European football, saying such behaviour would never be accepted in leagues like the Premier League. “Imagine a Manchester City player refusing to play in protest against the club owner’s decisions. Or an Arsenal player refusing two games because he’s unhappy with the renewal offer. It’s impossible for a player to dare do that in the Premier League,” he said.

Ronaldo had recently travelled to the United States as part of a Saudi delegation, meeting former US President Donald Trump. “We could give him 500 years and Ronaldo would never enter the White House. If he hadn’t been part of the Saudi delegation, he wouldn’t even have gotten close to the door,” he said.

Cristiano Ronaldo was excluded from Al-Nassr’s starting XI for Friday’s league match against Al-Ittihad at the Awwal Park Stadium, marking the second time ‘CR7’ was snubbed by his club in as many games. What makes his exclusion even more perplexing is the fact that the 41-year-old Portuguese superstar was left out of Al-Nassr’s plans despite being fully fit.

Ronaldo had signed with Al-Nassr in December 2022 after a second spell with Manchester United that ended on a sour note, becoming the highest-paid footballer ever with a salary of £177 million. The former Real Madrid forward’s arrival had been met with plenty of fanfare in Saudi Arabia, and put Al-Nassr as well as the Gulf kingdom on the football map.

Ronaldo cries foul over Benzema’s arrival at Al-Hilal

More than three years later, however, Ronaldo’s relationship with the Saudi Pro League appears to have hit rock bottom with an exit for the superstar appearing imminent. According to reports, it is five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s growing frustration with the Public Investment Fund and the way it manages its clubs in the SPL.

The PIF, Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund that is behind several mega projects in the kingdom and bankrolls a number of sporting ventures, has a majority ownership of four clubs in the Saudi top-flight competition including Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo, however, wasn’t pleased with what he perceived as PIF giving preferential treatment towards some of those clubs, especially when it comes to funds being spent on transfers.  While Al-Nassr made limited purchases during the winter transfer window, French striker Karim Benzema’s high-profile transfer from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal earlier this week has become the biggest talking point in Saudi football.

Both Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal are owned by the PIF and the latter happen to be Al-Nassr’s direct rivals for the Saudi title. Ronaldo is yet to win the SPL with his club since his arrival, having won just one trophy – the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup – in the past three years.

Al-Nassr register back-to-back wins without ‘CR7’

His former Madrid teammate’s arrival at Al-Hilal will presumably have irked Ronaldo, who decided to sit out of the away game against Al-Riyadh on Monday, the same day Benzema inked a deal with his new club.

Al-Nassr, however, have found to win both games in Ronaldo’s absence, defeating Al-Riyadh 1-0 and Al-Ittihad 2-0 with AFCON 2026 hero Sadio Mane scoring in both games, indicating that coach Jorge Jesus does have contingency plans in place in case Ronaldo continues with his protest, or ends up leaving the club in the near future.

The back-to-back wins have allowed Al-Nassr to narrow the gap with Al-Hilal down to a solitary point after 20 games, boosting the club’s hopes of winning their first league title in seven years.