In a surprising development in the Saudi Pro League, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo chose to miss Al‑Nassr’s match against Al‑Riyadh, sparking widespread speculation and media attention. Unlike typical absences due to injury or tactical rotation, Ronaldo’s decision appears to be a deliberate protest linked to the recent transfer of his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, to a rival Saudi club. Cristiano Ronaldo sits out Al‑Nassr’s match as a protest against leag