Cristiano Ronaldo battled through severe stomach pains as Al Nassr edged Al Ettifaq 1-0 in a tense Saudi Pro League encounter, with the Portugal captain later vomiting in the dressing room after being substituted.

Ronaldo, the focal point of Al Nassr’s attack, was visibly below his usual physical sharpness yet remained central to the decisive moment of the match. Just after the half-hour mark, he unleashed a powerful long-range strike that forced Al Ettifaq goalkeeper Marek Rodák into a difficult save. Kingsley Coman reacted quickest to the rebound, slotting home what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Despite his discomfort, Ronaldo continued to threaten. He struck the post with one effort and saw another attempt dramatically cleared off the line, underlining his enduring influence even on an off-colour night. His coach, Jorge Jesus, later revealed that the forward had been close to missing the match altogether.

I was thinking of not including him; he wasn’t in good shape, Jesus admitted afterward. He was suffering from stomach pains and a general feeling of fatigue and, when I substituted him, he went straight to the dressing room and threw up.

Ronaldo was withdrawn in stoppage time, heading directly down the tunnel rather than joining his teammates in the closing moments on the pitch. The episode raised immediate concern among supporters, though there was no indication from the club that the issue was anything more than an acute bout of illness.

The victory marked a club record-extending 15th league win of the campaign and kept Al Nassr firmly on course in the title race. They sit eight points clear of nearest challengers Al Hilal, who still hold a game in hand, maintaining pressure at the top of the table.

After the match, Ronaldo struck an upbeat tone on social media, writing +3. Great energy from the stand, a message that suggested relief and satisfaction despite his physical ordeal.

The veteran forward now has 24 league goals this season, placing him third in the Saudi Pro League scoring charts, three behind English striker Ivan Toney of Al Ahli. Having finished as the league’s top scorer in each of the previous two seasons, Ronaldo remains central to Al Nassr’s ambitions, even on nights when his greatest battle is with his own body.