Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be back powering Al Nassr when the Saudi Arabian team hosts Esteghlal in the return leg of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 Round of 16 tie on Monday.

In a shocking development, star player Cristiano Ronaldo will not be participating in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16, leaving Al Nassr fans and analysts buzzing with questions.

Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the matchday squad for their AFC Champions League clash against Esteghlal. Ronaldo did not travel to Tehran with the rest of his teammates for the first leg of the last-16 tie.

Cristiano Ronaldo was missing in action as Al Nassr faced Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League. Fans expected him to lead the attack, but he never made the trip to Tehran. The match ended in a goalless draw,

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr ... missed the 0-0 draw in the first leg of the round of 16 tie in Tehran last week. After 26 minutes in the return match, the 40-year-old scored his seventh goal ...

Tehran Independence has prepared strategically, understanding the importance of this match after the first leg ended in a stalemate at 0-0. Riyadh Victory’s choice to start Cristiano Ronaldo, who was rested in the first match, aims to bolster their attacking prowess and change the momentum of the series.

Cristiano Ronaldo could face a sentence of 99 lashes for adultery the next time he visits Iran because of a photo with a painter, stated several posts on social media. However, the Iranian Embassy in Spain has rejected the notion that the country’s justice system had issued such a ruling.

Nassr's Asian Champions League clash against Iranian side Esteghlal on Monday evening amid claims he was set to be punished in the Middle East nation

Cristiano Ronaldo did not travel to Tehran with Al-Nassr to face Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League Round of 16. CR7 was afraid of being whipped. The Portuguese star risked a punishment of 99 lashes in Iran due to an incident dating back to September 2023: he had hugged and kissed Iranian artist Fatemeh Hamami Nasrabadi on the forehead,

Al-Nassr star and Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the star attractions in the Asian Champions League, but fans in Iran will miss out on seeing the Portuguese icon. He has been left out

The Portuguese star could face punishment for kissing and hugging a disabled artist in 2023, and the Iranian club has refused to play the Asian Champions League clash on neutral ground. Cristiano Ronaldo will not play in the first leg of the AFC Champions League round of 16 because his team,