Cristiano Ronaldo will once again be missing when Al-Nassr takes on Almeria in a preseason friendly, leaving supporters wondering why the Portuguese superstar has yet to return to action. Cristiano Ronaldo will once again be missing when Al-Nassr takes on Almeria in a preseason friendly, leaving supporters wondering why the Portuguese superstar has yet to return to action. The fixture carries added intrigue because of Ronaldo’s unique connection to the Spanish club, making his absence even more noticeable ahead of one of the final warm-up matches before the new campaign. The friendly, scheduled at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, Portugal, is expected to provide another important test for both clubs. While Al-Nassr continues preparing under new head coach Ange Postecoglou, Almeria is using the occasion to sharpen its squad ahead of the new Segunda Division season. Almeria heads into the match after gradually building rhythm during preseason under new manager Xavier Garcia Pimienta. Friendlies against Aguilas, Granada, and Real Betis have helped the Spanish side improve fitness levels while allowing the coaching staff to implement a possession-based style of play. Monday’s preparations included another double training session, with recent signing Mikel Vesga fully integrated into the squad. Garcia Pimienta has continued emphasizing collective movement and ball retention as the foundations of his football philosophy. ⚽️ ¡Hoy tenemos un gran partido de pretemporada! 🤩🆚 @AlNassrFC.⌚️ 19:00 h. 🇪🇸📍🇵🇹 Cidade do Futebol.📺 Streaming en nuestro perfil de X. 🤝 Partido patrocinado por @Alawalyre.#PretemporadaUDA pic.twitter.com/c45iiRgZbn— UD Almería (@U_D_Almeria) August 4, 2026 On the opposite side, Al-Nassr is also entering the closing stages of its Portuguese training camp. The Saudi champion has produced mixed results so far, losing to Benfica B before defeating Merida and then suffering a 4-2 defeat against Estrela Amadora. Why Ronaldo is missing the match Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature against Almeria because he is still enjoying an extended recovery period following Portugal’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. According to multiple reports, the decision has nothing to do with injury or fitness concerns. Instead, Al-Nassr has granted its captain additional time off before the demanding 2026-27 season begins. Reports indicate Ronaldo will only return after Al-Nassr completes its preseason camp in Portugal. The Lisbon camp concludes on August 5, after which the squad will travel back to Riyadh before making final preparations for the Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Fateh on August 15. That timeline would leave Ronaldo with roughly one week of full training before the competitive campaign begins. View this post on Instagram Ronaldo still expected to be involved Although he will not appear on the pitch, Ronaldo is reportedly expected to attend the match from the VIP section. Spanish newspaper Marca reports suggest the Portuguese icon will watch alongside businessman Mohammed Al-Khereiji, one of his closest business partners. His presence would allow him to support Al-Nassr while also acknowledging another important part of his soccer career away from playing. The visit has also fueled optimism that Ronaldo’s return to team training is drawing closer after several weeks away from the squad. This preseason friendly carries additional significance because the 41-year-old superstar became a part-owner of Almeria earlier this year. In February 2026, the Portuguese legend reportedly acquired a 25 percent ownership stake in the Spanish club through CR7 Sports Investments, partnering with Almeria owner Mohammed Al-Khereiji.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) were the last to join UEFA and CONCACAF in the revolt against FIFA’s plan to sell the World Cup before the proposal was abandoned, talkSPORT reports.The AFC’...
The Portuguese superstar has been closely linked with Almeria's recent rise, and the Spanish club now finds itself on the verge of achieving something significant off the pitch after a dramatic night in the La Liga promotion playoffs. Cristiano Ronaldo may be preparing for the 2026 World Cup with Portugal, but developments away from international soccer are also giving him plenty of reason for optimism. The Portuguese superstar has been closely linked with Almeria’s recent rise, and the Spanish club now finds itself on the verge of achieving something significant off the pitch after a dramatic night in the La Liga promotion playoffs. The latest chapter of Almeria‘s season delivered excitement, tension, and a memorable late twist. After surviving an intense semifinal battle against Castellon, the club has moved one step closer to completing a remarkable journey that could transform its immediate future. Almeria booked its place in the Primera Division promotion playoff final after an unforgettable victory over Castellon. Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the return match appeared destined for extra time before a stunning stoppage-time winner changed everything. The contest swung back and forth throughout the evening. Almeria initially took the lead through Adrian Embarba, only for Castellon to respond with goals from Calatrava and Sienra to put the visitor in control. ¡NO APTO PARA CARDÍACOS! 😳🔥 Marca Álex Muñoz para volver a poner la igualada en el #AlmeríaCastellón. #LALIGAHighlights | #DESENLACELALIGA | @U_D_Almeria pic.twitter.com/8wab9a2lS3— LALIGA HYPERMOTION (@LaLiga2) June 9, 2026 With the clock ticking down, the Rojiblancos looked to be heading for extra time. However, Alex Munoz restored parity in the 80th minute, setting the stage for a dramatic finale in front of a packed home crowd. Unlikely hero emerges The decisive moment arrived in the 94th minute when Serbian midfielder Marko Dzodic produced the most important goal of his career. Arriving at the far post, he connected with a difficult header that flew into the net and sparked celebrations throughout the stadium. The goal was especially surprising given Dzodic’s limited scoring record. Before this season, he had managed only a single goal in his professional career, making his playoff winner even more remarkable. 🔜 Directo a la final.❤️ @U_D_Almeria 🤍#DesenlaceLALIGA | #LALIGAHYPERMOTION | #insideLALIGA | #AlmeríaCastellón pic.twitter.com/zF5uSKJhXJ— LALIGA HYPERMOTION (@LaLiga2) June 9, 2026 The success Ronaldo is waiting for and the final obstacle The dramatic victory means Almeria is now through to the La Liga promotion playoff final and sits just two matches away from securing promotion back to La Liga. That achievement represents the success that many around the club have been targeting throughout the season. After finishing third in La Liga 2, Almeria earned a playoff place and now stands within touching distance of returning to Spain’s top flight. For Ronaldo, who has been associated with the club’s ownership structure, promotion would represent another positive milestone in his growing influence off the pitch. The prospect of seeing Almeria compete among Spain’s elite clubs next season is now a genuine possibility rather than a distant ambition. 🌟 En busca de un SUEÑO.@MalagaCF 🆚 @UDLP_Oficial ⏰ 21:00 horas.✍️ ¿Un resultado para el #MálagaLasPalmas?#LALIGAHYPERMOTION | #DesenlaceLALIGA pic.twitter.com/nVZw4g4N0A— LALIGA HYPERMOTION (@LaLiga2) June 10, 2026 The Cowboys’ attention now shifts toward the playoff final, where promotion to La Liga will be decided across two legs. The club will face either Malaga or Las Palmas, who remain locked in their own semifinal battle. Malaga currently holds a narrow advantage after securing a 1-0 victory in the first leg against Las Palmas. That tie remains open, meaning Almeria must wait to discover its final opponent. The playoff format leaves no room for mistakes. A strong season can quickly be forgotten if a te
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