Cristiano Ronaldo to miss Al-Nassr match in Iraq due to illness

NEWSROOM — Al-Nassr announced that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the lineup for their upcoming match in Iraq against Al-Shorta due to a recent illness.

In a post on X, the club stated, “AlNassr Captain Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t feeling well today and was diagnosed with a viral infection. Team’s doctor confirmed he needs to rest and stay at his place.” Ronaldo will remain in Saudi Arabia to recover.

The club also wished their star player a quick recovery, saying, “We wish a speedy recovery to our captain.”

This development follows reports that Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, had been granted entry visas by Iraqi authorities for the match, which is scheduled to take place at Baghdad’s Al-Madina Stadium. The match was moved from Karbala International Stadium after a decision by the Asian Football Confederation on Sept. 12. Al-Shorta had initially resisted the venue change after preparing extensively to host the game in Karbala.

The match has garnered significant attention, with tickets selling out quickly. Some tickets have appeared on the black market for as much as 150,000 Iraqi dinars (around $100), causing frustration among fans.

The ticket distribution also led to severe congestion and chaos around Al-Madina Stadium as fans scrambled to secure spots, prompting the Iraqi Football Association’s Security Committee to reaffirm that only ticket holders would be granted entry to the stadium.

Previously, Al-Shorta had reassured fans that Ronaldo would be present in Baghdad for the match, despite the venue change. The club confirmed that all necessary arrangements, including entry permits for Ronaldo and his teammates, had been completed.

This match is part of the AFC Champions League Elite, featuring top clubs from Asia and global stars such as Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and Marcelo Brozović of Al-Nassr.