Determining the Time of Ronaldo's Return to Action for Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo has seldom suffered significant injuries during his professional journey. The Portuguese icon is now dealing with his first fitness problem of the current campaign.

Even at 41 years old, the Portuguese legend continues to score consistently. In a league that has attracted many world-class forwards in recent years, Ronaldo has netted 21 goals this season, trailing only Ivan Toney by two strikes in the Golden Boot race.

However, concern arose when Ronaldo limped off the pitch near the end of the match between Al Nassr and Al Fayha. For most of his career, Ronaldo has largely avoided injuries, even in its latter stages. Since joining Al Nassr, he has missed only 3 games due to injury. Yet, this number is at risk of increasing in the near future.

What injury did Ronaldo sustain?

The level of worry increased when medical staff immediately applied ice to Ronaldo's right hamstring area after he left the field. The forward appeared to be in considerable pain while sitting on the substitutes' bench. A few days later, Al Nassr issued an official update on his condition.

The club stated: “Cristiano Ronaldo has been diagnosed with a hamstring injury following the match against Al Fayha. He has begun a rehabilitation program and will be monitored and assessed daily.”

Although Ronaldo had a "strike" in early February and missed 2 matches, he has still played in 11 games since the start of 2026, starting all of them. The intense match schedule is believed to have affected the veteran player's physical condition. Nevertheless, Al Nassr's manager Jorge Jesus appeared quite optimistic after the Al Fayha match. He said: “The medical department will conduct a more thorough evaluation of his condition, but the initial feeling is just muscle fatigue”.

When can Ronaldo return?

According to Sports Illustrated, Al Nassr has not provided a specific timeline for Ronaldo's recovery, but it is likely he will not be sidelined for too long. Ronaldo is predicted to potentially miss the AFC Champions League Two match against Al Wasl in Dubai on March 4th. However, this match has been postponed due to ongoing military conflict in the region.

Al Nassr will return to action on March 7th when hosting Neom SC, aiming to extend their domestic winning streak to 11 games. However, the club may opt for a cautious approach and give Ronaldo additional rest for this match. If his recovery progresses smoothly, the Portuguese superstar could return on March 14th when Al Nassr plays away at Al Khaleej.

If he is sidelined longer than anticipated, Ronaldo's potential participation in the Portugal national team's late-March training camp, featuring friendlies against Mexico and the United States, could also be affected.