oi-Prateek Bannerjee
On Sunday night, Al-Nassr were in a do-or-die Saudi Pro League battle against Al-Feyha. They were trailing but fought back like warriors to win 3-1 and jump straight back to the top of the table. The stadium was rocking until the 81st minute when Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old legend and captain, suddenly started limping badly. He signalled to the bench with clear pain on his face. He had to be taken off immediately. A few moments later, everyone saw the worrying sight: Ronaldo sitting on the bench with an ice pack pressed tightly on his right hamstring.
This is not the first warning. Just days earlier, against Al-Najma, he had to leave the field before even 60 minutes were over. And in this same match, Ronaldo had also missed a penalty when the score was still 0-0. The pressure was already sky-high for the Portuguese superstar.
After the game, coach Jorge Jesus spoke to the media and gave an honest update:
“Ronaldo suffered muscle fatigue and the medical staff will urgently carry out the necessary tests to determine his condition.”
The coach also reminded everyone about the bigger fight:
“We must keep winning and maintain our advantage, as the battle for the league is fierce and the competition is high from all teams.”
At 41, Ronaldo is still in unbelievable shape, stronger and fitter than most players half his age. But at this stage of his career, even a small muscle issue becomes huge news.
Al-Nassr are chasing their first-ever Saudi league title. They need their Star to be fully fit.
But for fans across the world, the real tension is something much bigger, the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This will almost certainly be Ronaldo’s last World Cup. The man who has won five Ballon d’Or awards, Champions Leagues, Euros, and almost everything else, still dreams of lifting the one trophy missing from his cabinet – the World Cup for Portugal.
Ronaldo is now undergoing urgent medical tests (reports say an MRI is likely). The entire football world is holding its breath.
If the tests show only minor muscle fatigue, Ronaldo will bounce back stronger, win the Saudi title, and give us one final magical World Cup run in 2026.
If it turns out to be more serious, it could be a huge blow to both club and country.
<![CDATA[]]>
Get breaking news alerts.
Allow Notifications
You have already subscribed
Story first published: Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 12:03 [IST]
About the Author
