Al-Nassr have traveled to Uzbekistan without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for their AFC Champions League fixture against Pakhtakor Tashkent on Monday, November 2, 2026, as rising security concerns in Saudi Arabia linked to Houthi rebel activity continue to impact elite regional sports.
The security situation had already caused the postponement of an Al-Nassr AFC Champions League match a week prior. Head coach Ange Postecoglou opted to leave Ronaldo—who scored a hat-trick in the Saudi Pro League last week—out of the traveling squad alongside teammates Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan. Although Postecoglou publicly cited "match fatigue and heavy travel demands" for resting his key players, insider reports confirm broader security evaluations influenced the travel roster decisions.
Read nextNamibia Script History with 3-2 ODI Series Triumph Over Ireland to Claim First-Ever Bilateral Series Win Against a Full ICC MemberRonaldo's exclusion delays his pursuit of reaching 1,000 official career goals, leaving him 15 goals away from the historic milestone. Youth forward Abdulrahman Sufyani has been drafted into the squad as his replacement. While Uzbek fans expressed disappointment over missing the chance to watch the Portuguese icon live, Ronaldo is expected to return to action on November 6, 2026, when Al-Nassr face Al-Hazem in the Saudi Pro League.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Sports Desk, • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
