Cristiano Ronaldo Skips AFC Clash in Iran Over Security Fears

Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the Al Nassr and Esteghlal AFC Champions League game in Iran. After the Saudi club’s demand for a neutral location was denied by the authorities, the Portuguese footballer did not travel to Iran with Al Nassr for the AFC Champions League final 16 match in Tehran.

Apparently missing the contest against Esteghlal five times Ballon d’Or award winner missed for security issues following the 2023 incident.

Al Nassr won Persepolis 2-0, so the 40-year-old headed to Tehran, the capital of Iran, in September 2023 A stadium ban meant that the game was almost empty, but thousands of supporters surged into the team hotel to view and get near to CR7. He has said since then of it as a “bad experience.”

The uproar generated by Ronaldo’s hug and forehead kiss to a crippled artist who paints with her feet, Fatemeh Hammami Nasrabadi, makes it also likely that Ronaldo would skip the game. Iranian law regards his action as adultery, hence he may be penalized with 99 lashes for entering the nation.

Al-Nassr’s coach, Stefano Pioli, revealed during a press conference, “Ronaldo had a physical issue. We wanted him not to be in the game, hence I wouldn’t say it was exactly a major issue. Moreover, Al Nassr will play Esteghlal on Monday, March 3, 2025 in the last 16 tie of the AFC Champions League.