Cristiano Ronaldo’s standoff with Saudi football authorities escalated as the Al Nassr captain missed a second consecutive match, deepening uncertainty around his future in the Saudi Pro League.

The Portuguese star was left out of the squad for Al Nassr’s clash with Al Ittihad, having already sat out the previous league win over Al Riyadh. Club sources indicated they had expected Ronaldo to feature, but those close to the player said he intended to boycott the fixture after failing to receive assurances over changes to the club’s management structure and transfer backing.

Ronaldo’s frustration is understood to centre on what he views as insufficient support in the transfer market compared with Al Nassr’s direct rivals. He has watched Al Hilal, also majority-owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, aggressively strengthen their squad, including the high-profile signing of his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad.

Despite the off-field turmoil, Al Nassr secured a 2-0 victory over Al Ittihad, climbing to second in the table and closing the gap on leaders Al Hilal. In the stands, however, the focus remained firmly on the absent number seven. Supporters at Al-Awwal Park staged a coordinated show of support, holding aloft yellow placards bearing Ronaldo’s name and iconic shirt number in the seventh minute.

The Saudi Pro League responded firmly to the growing tension, issuing a statement stressing that no individual player could shape policy beyond their own club. The league underlined that each team operates with its own board, executives and football leadership, all working within a central financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance.

Officials pointed to recent transfer activity as evidence that clubs act independently, insisting that differing recruitment strategies among the top sides reflected internal decisions rather than directives from above. They also highlighted the tight title race, with only a small margin separating the leading teams, as proof that the system is functioning as intended.

Funding for player acquisitions is channelled through a centrally managed player acquisition fund rather than directly from the Public Investment Fund. The league is believed to allocate similar annual amounts to the country’s four biggest clubs, including Al Nassr and Al Hilal, in an effort to maintain parity.

Ronaldo’s absence, and the rare spectacle of a global superstar effectively on strike, has now become a test case for how far Saudi football is willing to bend to the demands of its most marketable figure.