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Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo will not travel with Al-Nassr for their AFC Champions League Round of 16 first-leg clash against Esteghlal Tehran.

The Saudi club announced its squad for the trip to Iran, notably omitting Ronaldo without providing any explanation for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner’s absence.

Al-Nassr is set to face Esteghlal at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Monday night, with Omani referee Ahmed Al-Kaf officiating the match.

100-Lash Controversy Resurfaces

Global media reports have speculated that Ronaldo’s absence could be linked to an old legal controversy in Iran. In September 2023, during a visit to face Persepolis, Ronaldo met Iranian fans, including Fatemeh Hamami, a disabled artist, whom he kissed on the forehead.

According to circulating reports, Iranian law considers such an act punishable by "hudud" (Islamic corporal punishment), allegedly warranting 100 lashes. Some sources suggest that this legal risk influenced Al-Nassr's decision to exclude him from the Tehran trip.

Iran Denies Punishment Claims

However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry, via Associated Press, denied the reports, calling them baseless. Iran’s embassy in Spain also released an official statement:

"We strongly refute any claims of a judicial ruling against an international athlete. It is concerning that such false information is being spread."

While no court order has been issued against Ronaldo, reports suggest that Al-Nassr had requested to move the match to a neutral venue— a request that was denied.

This marks Ronaldo’s second consecutive absence from an Al-Nassr fixture in Iran, having also missed the team’s match against Persepolis in February. Since joining the Saudi club, his ties with Iran have appeared strained.

At 40, Ronaldo remains focused on delivering Al-Nassr’s first-ever AFC Champions League title, the only major trophy missing from the club’s cabinet.

Al-Nassr finished third in the group stage behind Saudi rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, collecting 17 points from eight matches (five wins, two draws, one loss).

So far this season, the Portuguese forward has scored 25 goals in 30 matches across all competitions, along with four assists. Here’s a breakdown of his stats in each tournament.