Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at Al-Nassr has been massive, but questions are beginning to surface about how much the club leans on him. As reported by Softfootball, the Portuguese legend was the star again when he scored his 950th career goal in a 2-0 win over Al-Hazem earlier this month. Despite his impressive numbers, it’s interesting to note that the team sometimes seems to perform better when he is not on the pitch.
During the 2022/23 season, Al-Nassr averaged 2.36 points per game without Ronaldo, compared to 2.13 when he played. They even scored a bit more in his absence. The team occasionally looks more fluid without constantly searching for him with every attack. It is not that Ronaldo is a problem, but his presence tends to make others overly dependent on him instead of trusting their instincts.
Ronaldo has scored 106 goals since joining Al-Nassr in 2022, an incredible return by any measure. Yet, the club has not lifted the Saudi Pro League trophy since 2019. They have finished second in the last two seasons and lost out in major tournaments like the AFC Champions League, Super Cup and King’s Cup, in which they just lost a match to Al-Ittihad in a 2-1 scoreline, as reported by Softfootball.
Their only silverware since Ronaldo arrived remains the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, which FIFA does not officially recognise. Even though Al-Nassr started the 2025/26 season perfectly with six wins from six games, frustration is quietly growing among some supporters. While many still adore him, a portion of the fanbase has become critical.
Videos online show fans turning their backs during matches, and some describe the team’s heavy reliance on Ronaldo as embarrassing. Critics argue that the club’s expensive signings, such as Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović, and Aymeric Laporte, have not changed the fact that the system revolves too much around one man.
Al Nassr FC, via their official X account, posted a goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo during a match, highlighting his skill and athleticism, which is particularly notable given his age of 40 and ongoing performance in the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season.
Watch the video below:
Off the pitch, though, Ronaldo’s effect goes far beyond football. His arrival in December 2022 reshaped Saudi football entirely, encouraging stars like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, and Riyad Mahrez to join the league. He has elevated Al-Nassr’s profile globally, attracting new sponsors and fans everywhere. Ronaldo’s influence has even changed how other clubs approach competition in the Saudi Pro League.
Still, success in football is not only about one player. Ronaldo’s influence is undeniable, both commercially and culturally, but the question remains whether Al-Nassr can balance their reliance on him with a stronger team identity. Whatever the case, his time in Saudi Arabia has already reshaped the country’s football landscape and pushed Al-Nassr into global conversations that once felt impossible.
