Cristiano Ronaldo Getty Images 06 February 2026, 11:40

The conflict between Cristiano Ronaldo and the management of the Saudi Pro League has reached a critical point. The Portuguese superstar, who already missed Al-Nasr’s previous match against Al-Riyadh, is preparing to boycott another game – this time the clash against Al-Ittihad.

According to sources, the demarche of Cristiano (who turned 41 years old yesterday) was caused by the actions of the Sovereign Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). Ronaldo is furious that his direct title rivals Al Hilal received a major boost in the winter with the signing of Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad, while An Nasr were left without any high-profile signings.

The Portuguese considers this to be a manifestation of the unfair distribution of resources between state-owned clubs. The Saudi Pro League did not remain silent and issued an official statement, which is effectively a public warning to Ronaldo.

“The Saudi Pro-League is built on a simple principle: each club acts independently according to uniform rules. Decisions regarding transfers and expenses are made exclusively by the management of the clubs within the framework of the financial regulations,” the statement reads.

The league has made it clear that it will not tolerate dictates from individual players, even of such a caliber as Cristiano. Despite the fact that Ronaldo has returned to training and even published a photo in the colors of the club, his participation in the upcoming match remains in question. If the strike continues, it could lead to serious sanctions or even talk of an early termination of the contract in the summer.