Ronaldo's Replacement Dilemma: Jesus Faces a Puzzle Before Neom
5 March 2026
The Ronaldo Replacement Dilemma
The Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus of Al-Nassr, is torn between two clear options to replace Ronaldo.
Al-Nassr host Neom on Saturday at Al-Nass Park, in the 25th round of the Roshen Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo will be out with a muscle injury, sidelined for roughly two to four weeks.
Saudi daily Al-Riyadiyah says Jesus is torn between Abdullah Al-Hamdan and Senegal's Sadio Mane to play as the number nine and fill Ronaldo's absence.
The coach ran a dual-team drill on Thursday, starting Hamdan as the primary striker, with Mane on the left wing and Angelo in midfield beside Croatian Marcelo Brozovic.
At the end of the drill, Mane moved to striker, Angelo to left wing, with Abdullah Al-Khibr in midfield beside Brozovic.
Jesus is set to decide the final shape of the team against Neom during Friday's main training, about 24 hours before the match.
Two front-runners and a decision looming
Punchline: If Mane leads the line, the defense will need a map—it's wandering without Ronaldo.
Punchline: Ronaldo out, but the bench still has more sprinting on the plan than a treadmill convention.
