Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo set to miss AFC Champions League Elite fixture due to a viral infection

Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo has been diagnosed with a viral infection and will not be able to participate in Al Nassr's Asian Champions League opener this week against Al Shorta in Iraq. 

The Portuguese veteran was determined to add Asia's top club crown to his list of achievements when the competition starts on Monday. Earlier this year, Ronaldo's first attempt with Al Nassr ended in a quarterfinal penalty shootout defeat to eventual champions Al Ain.

Al-Nassr's Official Statement 

According to Al Nassar's official statement on their social media X, their skipper Cristiano Ronaldo was not feeling well and, upon being diagonised, it was revealed that he was suffering from a viral infection. The club's doctor has prescribed the star striker to rest, and hence he won't be travelling with the side for their AFC fixture in Iraq.

“Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo was not feeling well today and was diagnosed with a viral infection,” said a club statement posted on social media platform X on Sunday.

“The team’s doctor confirmed he needs to rest and stay at home. As a result he will not be travelling with the team to Iraq today. We wish our captain a speedy recovery.” - as per a statement.

All about the rebranded AFC Champions League Elite 

The newly rebranded Asian Champions League Elite, featuring teams from Saudi Arabia, poses a major threat in international football. Saudi teams have made significant investments in star players like Ronaldo and Neymar. In the revamped competition, Saudi Arabia will hold a mini knockout tournament from the quarter-finals onwards, with the champions netting a minimum of $12 million. This is a testament to Saudi Arabia's rising prominence in global football, especially as the expected host of the 2034 World Cup.

The Champions League Elite will be commencing on Monday with a revised format that divides 24 teams equally into East and West groups, featuring prominent clubs such as Al Nassr, Al Ahli, and Neymar’s Al Hilal. Each team will encounter eight different opponents in the group stage. The top eight teams from each zone will compete in the last 16 over two legs in March, followed by the final stages in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 4.

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