Cristiano Ronaldo ends protest, scores 18 minutes later for Al Nassr - ESPN

ESPN

by ESPN

February 14, 2026

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Cristiano Ronaldo made a dramatic return to Al Nassr's lineup on Saturday, ending his protest over the club's lack of financial support and delivering an immediate impact. After boycotting two consecutive Saudi Pro League matches earlier this month, Ronaldo was named captain for the match against Al Fateh. He wasted no time in making his presence felt, scoring just 18 minutes into the game. The move came after the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) addressed his main concerns, including overdue salaries and restoring management autonomy to Al Nassr's executives. Ronaldo's protest had been fueled by frustration over PIF's limited investment in the team, particularly in comparison to rival club Al Hilal, which recently signed Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad. Despite Al Hilal being majority-owned by PIF, Ronaldo felt Al Nassr was not receiving the same level of financial backing. The Saudi Pro League responded by emphasizing the independence of clubs in managing their finances, while acknowledging Ronaldo's significant role in the club's growth and ambitions. Al Nassr entered the match in third place in the league standings, trailing leaders Al Hilal by four points but with a game in hand. Ronaldo's return and early goal showcased his importance to the team and highlighted his determination to succeed on the field. Meanwhile, he continues to chase Al Qadsiah's Julián Quiñones and Al Ahli's Ivan Toney in the league's scoring race, having scored his 18th goal of the

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Originally published on ESPN on 2/14/2026