Ronaldo Skips the Clasico to Dad Duty: A Controversial Pause in Saudi Football
6 February 2026
Context
Ronaldo stirs controversy ahead of the clash tonight.
What happened
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr, skipped the Clasico against archrivals Al-Ittihad, choosing to play with his daughter today.
Nassr hosts Al-Ittihad shortly, at Al-Nass Park, in the 21st round of the Saudi Roshan League tonight.
Less than two hours before kickoff, Ronaldo's friend posted an Instagram story showing him playing with his daughter, flipping through papers live today online.
This happened as Ronaldo was left out of the squad, amid his objections to certain league policies regarding spending in the recent winter transfer window, sparking debate over club finances.
Ronaldo also missed the previous match against Riyadh, on Monday, in the 20th round, as Al-Nassr edged a 1-0 victory to extend their hold there.
Punchline 1: If Ronaldo can juggle a game plan and a giggle, defenders might finally fear parenting duties more than penalties.
Punchline 2: The ball asked for a timeout—apparently Ronaldo's parenting is offside today.
