Jorge Jesus’ decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo out of Portugal’s starting line-up has raised questions that extend beyond the national team, with the incident potentially affecting the forward’s position at Al Nassr.
Ronaldo reportedly reacted angrily before leaving the Portugal camp, adding to the significance of a decision taken by a manager who previously worked with him during one of Al Nassr’s most successful periods. Just months after the pair celebrated trophies and victories together in Riyadh, Jesus became the coach willing to place Ronaldo on the bench and make clear that neither the player’s status nor his reaction would dictate his decisions.
Jesus did not treat Ronaldo as untouchable. Instead, he made a clear tactical choice and stood by it, signalling that the Portugal captain’s reputation did not guarantee him a place in the team. Ronaldo has spent much of his career at the centre of the projects he has joined, but Jesus demonstrated that a manager may still leave him out if he believes it is right for the team.
That precedent could be significant at Al Nassr. Jesus’ decision has challenged the assumption that leaving Ronaldo out is an option too difficult for a coach to consider. If a manager has the authority and willingness to accept the consequences, the decision is possible.
For Ange Postecoglou, however, the circumstances would be more complicated. The Australian has not appeared to be seeking a fresh confrontation with Ronaldo, but the demands of the season could eventually force him to make a similar call, particularly if the forward continues to perform below expectations.
Ronaldo has yet to produce the level anticipated of him for Al Nassr, either domestically or in Asian competitions. That has prompted questions about whether he should play every match, especially as Postecoglou attempts to impose his own tactical ideas and build a system suited to the team.
If the manager concludes that Al Nassr require different solutions in certain games, Ronaldo’s omission from the starting XI may no longer seem impossible. But unlike a decision made during an international match, a move at the Saudi club would carry wider consequences. Ronaldo is tied to a major contract, remains a global star and is central to a broader sporting and commercial project.
Repeatedly leaving him out could therefore turn a tactical decision into a serious dispute, particularly if Ronaldo felt his influence within the team was diminishing. His reaction to the Portugal decision showed the tension that can arise when his wishes conflict with those of the coach.
A place on the bench would not automatically mean the end of his Al Nassr career. If Ronaldo accepted the decision professionally and responded on the pitch, the matter could remain a sporting issue. A direct confrontation, though, could create a much deeper crisis.
Financial considerations would make any separation especially difficult. Reports indicate that Ronaldo earns an annual salary approaching 200 million euros, meaning that cancelling his contract or ending the relationship would involve complex financial, legal and administrative calculations.
Jesus may have opened the door to a new way of managing Ronaldo, but turning a benching into the end of his Al Nassr career would require far more than a coach’s tactical decision. If Postecoglou follows the same path, Ronaldo will have to respond either by reasserting himself on the field or by entering the most serious test of his future in Riyadh since joining the club.
