Cristiano Ronaldo remains in Saudi Arabia and was pictured training with his Al Nassr team-mates on Tuesday, quelling speculation that he had left the Middle East for Madrid amid escalating regional tensions.
Questions over the 41-year-old $81 million Bombardier Global Express private jet departed Saudi Arabia late Monday night, with flight-tracking data showing the aircraft making the nearly seven-hour journey to the Spanish capital.
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Data from Flightradar24 indicated the jet left Riyadh at approximately 8:00 p.m. local time and arrived in Madrid shortly before 1:00 a.m., flying west over Egypt and across the Mediterranean.
The movement of the aircraft fuelled reports that Ronaldo had exited the region as foreign nationals continue to leave amid heightened security concerns.
Al Nassr Dismiss Exit Speculation
However, Al Nassr moved swiftly to dispel the rumours. The club shared images on X showing Ronaldo at their training facilities, following a video posted Monday of the forward working in the gym.
Despite his presence in Riyadh, Ronaldo is set for a spell on the sidelines. In a brief statement, Al Nassr confirmed.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has been diagnosed with a hamstring injury after the last game against Al-Fayha.
He started a rehabilitation programme and will be under evaluation day by day.”
The Portuguese star was forced off during Al Nassr’s 3-1 victory over Al-Fayha on Saturday, raising concerns over the severity of the muscle injury.
AFC Postpones Fixtures Amid Regional Instability
Meanwhile, regional instability has disrupted football across West Asia. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that several fixtures, including Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League quarter-final clash against Al-Wasl, have been postponed.
In a statement, the AFC said matches scheduled in the West Region for March 2–4, 2026, would be rescheduled, adding that it would continue to monitor the evolving security situation to ensure the safety of players, officials and supporters.
While Ronaldo’s private jet did travel to Madrid, the forward himself remains in Saudi Arabia, focusing on recovery as uncertainty continues to affect football operations in the region.
