Reports have emerged that Cristiano Ronaldo would not be featuring in today’s league match despite being fully fit. It was not the first time the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had taken such a stance.

Ronaldo is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, but his illustrious career has also been marked by moments of controversy. The Portuguese forward, who will clock 41 by February 5, 2026, has never been shy about expressing frustration when situations at his clubs have not met his expectations.

According to Planet Football on Monday, Ronaldo currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has once again found himself in the spotlight in February 2026.

February 2026 – Al-Nassr

Ronaldo will be left out of Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Riyadh today, a decision confirmed by reports from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Despite being available for selection, the forward did not feature amid growing dissatisfaction with the club’s direction.

Planet Football said, “Sources close to the situation indicated that Ronaldo was unhappy with how Al-Nassr were being supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns a majority stake in the league’s four biggest clubs — Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad. Ronaldo reportedly believes that Al-Nassr have not been backed to the same extent as rivals Al-Hilal, who are leading the table and are close to signing Karim Benzema.”

Still in pursuit of his first league title with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo is said to be frustrated by a quiet January transfer window and fears the championship may be slipping out of reach. While Al-Nassr are expected to cope without him against lower-ranked opposition, the move was widely interpreted as a clear message of protest.

October 2022 – Manchester United

Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United came to an abrupt end following a breakdown in his relationship with manager Erik ten Hag. Tensions reached a boiling point during a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur, when Ronaldo refused to come on as a late substitute.

Feeling disrespected, he left the bench before the final whistle, walking down the tunnel as the match was still in progress. The incident sparked widespread criticism and dominated headlines.

Ronaldo later admitted he regretted his actions during a televised interview with Piers Morgan, though he maintained that he felt provoked by the manager’s decision.

“I regret leaving the stadium,” Ronaldo said. “But at the same time, I felt provoked. It’s not acceptable for me to be put on for three minutes. I know what I can give to a team.”

He played only two more league matches for United before his contract was terminated by mutual consent in November 2022.

August 2021 – Juventus

Ronaldo’s first refusal came as he pushed for a move away from Juventus in the summer of 2021. He asked not to be selected for the club’s opening home game of the season against Empoli, making clear his intention to leave.

Juventus lost the match 1–0, and Ronaldo completed his return to Manchester United just days later. Then-manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed Ronaldo’s stance, stating that the forward no longer wished to play for the club.

Despite falling short of Champions League success, Ronaldo’s time in Turin was productive. He scored 101 goals in 134 appearances and won five trophies during his three seasons in Italy. (PUNCH)

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