Cristiano Ronaldo debate returns after Al-Nassr suffer first Saudi Pro League defeat

The influence of Cristiano Ronaldo on Al-Nassr has come under renewed scrutiny after the Saudi club suffered their first defeat of the 2026-27 Roshn Saudi League season against Al-Ittihad on Saturday.

Al-Nassr were beaten 2-1 by Al-Ittihad, with Ronaldo’s subdued performance prompting fresh questions about whether the Portugal captain’s presence is helping or limiting the team’s overall displays.

Saudi sports journalist Abdul Karim Al-Zamil intensified the debate by arguing that Al-Nassr are effectively playing with 10 men when Ronaldo is on the pitch, regardless of whether the forward scores.

“Al-Nassr, with Ronaldo, play a man down even if he scores. This is a fact that some people overlook,” Al-Zamil wrote on his account on the social media platform X.

The comments reflect a wider discussion over how Ronaldo should be used as Al-Nassr pursue their objectives in the league. Al-Zamil said the player and the club are working towards different targets, suggesting that the team’s ambitions are centred on winning trophies while Ronaldo is focused on reaching 1,000 career goals.

“Al-Nassr’s goal is a trophy, while Ronaldo’s goal is 1,000 goals,” he added.

Al-Zamil did not necessarily call for Ronaldo to be left out of the team altogether. Instead, he proposed that Al-Nassr manage the 40-year-old’s involvement more carefully, with the possibility of using him for a greater impact after half-time.

“Managing his participation in the second half would benefit him and the team,” he said.

Ronaldo remains one of the most prominent players in the Roshn Saudi League, but Al-Nassr’s defeat by Al-Ittihad has given renewed weight to arguments about the balance between accommodating the striker and maintaining the team’s collective performance.

The result left Al-Nassr on 12 points in second place. Their loss also ensured that Al-Hilal moved into first place, while Al-Ittihad climbed to fourth with 11 points.

The defeat was Al-Nassr’s first of the league campaign, and the reaction has focused not only on the result but also on the role Ronaldo should play as the season develops. Al-Zamil’s suggestion is that a more carefully managed contribution, particularly in the second half, could serve both the player and the club as Al-Nassr pursue silverware.

The discussion follows a performance in which Ronaldo was unable to prevent Al-Nassr from losing their unbeaten record. Al-Zamil’s criticism has therefore reopened the question of whether the team’s best approach is to build its attacking plans around Ronaldo for the full match or to use him selectively in pursuit of results.