Ronaldo’s Spotlight Collision: Nasiri Arrives as the Riyadh Clasico Puts Pressure to the Test
5 February 2026
Ronaldo could face Youssef En-Nesyri for the first time since the 2022 World Cup shock, a reunion that could steer the tone of the Saudi Pro League week.
Background and Stakes
Ronaldo, the captain of Al-Nassr, is under growing pressure as he feels his club’s ownership and funding are not matching rivals’ backing, a memory amplified by the World Cup heartbreak of 2022 should he end his protest and line up for the Clasico against Al-Ittihad.
With the match set to kick off in less than 48 hours, Ronaldo has yet to confirm whether he will play or continue his protest against what he views as an unfair distribution of wealth by the consortium that controls the top four in the Saudi Pro League.
All eyes would be on Ronaldo if he participates, as this would be his first Clasico since Benzema’s move to Al-Hilal—a deal widely seen as a spark for Ronaldo’s anger.
Al-Ittihad could lean on Moroccan Nesyri, who recently joined from Fenerbahce, to fill Benzema’s void, and that would touch one of Ronaldo’s worst professional nightmares during his career.
Ronaldo hasn’t forgotten Nesyri’s world-class header that knocked Portugal out of the 2022 World Cup, a moment that left the Portuguese star in tears and reminded critics that the allure of the game can still sting.
A Reunion and a Test of Fortitudes
Back then Nesyri rose highest to convert a precise cross into the net, sending Morocco into the semi-finals over Portugal, a historic moment for the Atlas Lions and a soundtrack Ronaldo would rather forget.
Ronaldo has long endured the aftershocks of that defeat, while his eternal rival Lionel Messi steered Argentina to the title, leaving the Portuguese star trophy-less at the World Cup and deepening the storied duel with the Argentine great.
The expectation now is that Ronaldo will compete in the 2026 World Cup, targeted for the summer, in a final bid to lift football’s crown before retirement looms.
On the other hand, the Nesyri clash four years after Doha could offer Ronaldo a moral revenge against the man who brought him tears in front of millions.
Yet Ronaldo’s and Nesyri’s participation remains uncertain; Ronaldo could persist with his protest, while Nesyri might not be fully ready having just arrived at the Tigers’ fortress.
Punchline 1: Shoot first, ask questions later—that’s Ronaldo’s Clasico motto when the ball is near the goal.
Punchline 2: If patience were a stat, Ronaldo would be leading the league in time wasted arguing with the paymaster.
