Ronaldo’s Name Roars in the Riyadh Derby Despite His Absence

The Portuguese star is present in name despite his absence from the derby.

Ronaldo’s name echoes through the stands

Fans at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh filled the derby with the name of their Portuguese ace, Cristiano Ronaldo, even though he did not feature for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League clash against Riyadh.

Ronaldo was absent from the Al Nassr lineup that faced Riyadh in the 20th round of the Saudi Pro League at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.

Despite his absence, Al Nassr supporters continued to chant Ronaldo’s name, repeating it during the seventh minute in honor of his iconic shirt number.

Why the star was missing

There is growing uncertainty around Ronaldo’s absence; some reports say he declined to participate amid questions over January signings.

Al Nassr did, in fact, bring in only Iraqi midfielder Haider Abdul Karim from Al Zawraa in this winter transfer window.

These are the latest updates regarding the squad, with the absentee Ronaldo remaining a hot topic among fans and pundits.

Notably, the crowd didn’t miss a beat—chanting as if Ronaldo had decided to sign a personal loyalty contract with stadium echoes rather than a club contract with the team.

Lines were drawn not on the pitch but in the stands, where the chorus proved louder than any bottle-throwing noise or scarf-waving demonstration could ever be.

On the bright side, absence has a flair for drama; the stadium’s atmosphere was a masterclass in suspenseful ambiance, courtesy of Ronaldo’s name—still the headline act without him playing.

The takeaway remains: the derby delivered energy, even with Ronaldo watching from the sideline, proving that sometimes the show is more about the crowd than the players.

Punchline 1: Ronaldo’s benched, but his fanfare is sharper than a sniper’s scope—target acquired: the crowd’s roar, loud and precise.

Punchline 2: If absence makes the heart grow fonder, this derby turned the stadium into a love letter—signed by chants, sealed with tempo, delivered by the bass of drums.