Alex MacQuoid
Cristiano Ronaldo played through stomach pains during Al-Nassr‘s 1-0 win over Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League on Wednesday, coach Jorge Jesus confirmed. The Portuguese captain remained on the pitch until the 89th minute despite physical discomfort, only to vomit immediately after substitution.
Kingsley Coman scored the decisive goal in the 31st minute. Ronaldo‘s shot created the opportunity for Coman‘s tap-in, and the veteran forward rattled the crossbar later in the match.
Jesus revealed the extent of Ronaldo‘s condition postgame.
“I was thinking of not including him; he wasn’t in good shape. He was suffering from stomach pains and a general feeling of fatigue and, when I substituted him, he went straight to the dressing room and threw up.”
Ronaldo demonstrated his influence regardless of the illness. He recorded 10 shots, five more than any other player on the field, with three on target. His performance underscored Al-Nassr‘s attacking threat despite his compromised physical state.
Al-Nassr extended their dominance in the Saudi Pro League, now eight points clear at the top of the standings. The victory marked their 15th consecutive win in the competition. Ronaldo has accumulated 24 league goals this season, maintaining his goal-scoring consistency even through health challenges.