Switzerland defeated Portugal 2-0 in Euro Championship. The fixture is part of the Group stage - 3 stage in the 2008 season. The full-time result capped a Switzerland vs Portugal meeting in Euro Championship with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Switzerland and Portugal. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Euro ChampionshipRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Switzerland defeated Portugal 2-0 in Euro Championship. The fixture is part of the Group stage - 3 stage in the 2008 season. The full-time result capped a Switzerland vs Portugal meeting in Euro Championship with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Switzerland and Portugal. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Euro ChampionshipToday’s fluff is riding a unicycleIt’s been a quiet summer thus far for Folarin Balogun, so why not stir up some controversy by signing for the arch rivals of your boyhood club? The Monaco striker, who started his career at Arsenal, is being linked with a move to Tottenham, who need a goalscorer to ensure they do not finish 17th again. The American’s agents have offered him to Roberto De Zerbi’s side to see if they are willing to bite. One forward certainly of interest to the Italian manager is Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson but no bid has been made.This seems like a sensible point to put in some Tottenham and Manchester City gossip. If Savinho heads down south, as has been discussed for a long old while, Enzo Maresca would like Pedro Neto to replace him as a wing demon, having worked with the Portugal international at Chelsea. In further Spurs winger news, Manor Solomon was close to leaving for West Ham but Hull have entered the race as part of their accelerated transfer activity as they seek to ascertain if the Israeli is a Housemartins fan. Continue reading...
Chelsea are close to finalising a deal with Rayo Vallecano for 28-year-old Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria, who has agreed personal terms with the Premier League side. Chelsea are eyeing a move for 26-year-old Porto and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who was previously linked with Manchester United and has a 60m euro (£51m) release clause.
After visiting his teammates during the preseason friendly against Almeria in Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to return to Al Nassr training sessions in the coming days. Cristiano Ronaldo has officially shifted his focus back to club football after paying a visit to his teammates during Tuesday’s friendly exhibition against UD Almeria in Portugal. With the competitive season right around the corner, reports indicate the Portuguese superstar is set to rejoin full Al Nassr training sessions in the coming days. According to a report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, Ronaldo’s post-World Cup vacation has come to an end. The forward had been enjoying extended time off following Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign, spending quality time with family on the island of Mallorca. On Tuesday, Ronaldo stopped by the team’s training facility at the Cidade do Futebol, the national sports complex managed by the Portuguese Football Federation. He reconnected with his teammates on-site and held his first formal meeting with newly appointed head coach Ange Postecoglou. He then watched the preseason match against Almeria, the Spanish second-division club in which he holds a 25% ownership stake. Observing the match alongside former Al Nassr manager and current Portugal national team coach Jorge Jesus, Ronaldo saw Al Nassr wrap up its overseas tour with a 2-0 defeat. Captain Ronaldo meets the squad before #AlNassrAlmeria 🤩🐐 pic.twitter.com/vxQndcX9NF— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) August 4, 2026 Following the loss in Lisbon, Al Nassr will continue sessions in Portugal before returning to Riyadh. Per A Bola, Ronaldo is now cleared to integrate back into full squad training, making his return to the pitch after last appearing professionally in Portugal’s Round of 16 World Cup elimination against Spain on July 6. Ronaldo’s upcoming wedding remains a focal point Al Nassr opens its official 2026-27 campaign on Saturday, August 15, taking on Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League opener, leaving Ronaldo with only a brief window of squad training before matchday. Meanwhile, details surrounding his upcoming wedding will also remain a major headline throughout the week. Reports from The Sun indicate that Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez will tie the knot in Madeira, the island where the legendary goalscorer grew up, selecting his hometown of Funchal for the ceremony. The wedding is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, at the historic Funchal Cathedral, followed by a reception at the five-star Savoy Palace hotel, where two complete floors and exclusive lounge areas have been reserved across Friday and Saturday for high-profile guests.
In an exclusive interview with World Soccer Talk, Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee president Chris Canetti discussed the success after welcoming more than 1 million fans in the city, the excitement around Cristiano Ronaldo, and what will be left as legacy in the U.S. Houston solidified its standing as a major international sports destination during the 2026 World Cup, drawing over one million visitors to the city for matches and surrounding festival events. One of the marquee attractions during the tournament was Cristiano Ronaldo, whose Portugal national team played two matches at NRG Stadium, driving massive crowds and fan engagement across the city. Beyond the Portuguese global icon, the overall tournament generated remarkable momentum, drawing sellout crowds across every single fixture hosted in South Texas. In an exclusive interview with World Soccer Talk, Chris Canetti, president of the Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee, reflected on the logistics and operational triumphs of the North American tournament, the lasting legacy for domestic soccer, and his upcoming career transition. The post-World Cup momentum and operations Two weeks have passed since the conclusion of the largest World Cup in history, spanning record numbers of host cities, venues, participating nations, and total matches. While event operations have naturally scaled back, Canetti emphasized that “there’s so much momentum here in the United States and in Houston from this World Cup,” noting that post-tournament operations remain active. A general view of Houston Stadium. (Jack Gorman/Getty Images) The journey to bring World Cup action to Space City began with the initial united bid back in 2018, receiving formal venue confirmation in June 2022. For Canetti, it represented the culmination of an eight-year campaign that reached its operational peak during match execution. “I think it was very busy leading up to the first day of the World Cup, which for us was the 11th of June, which was the opening of the Fan Festival. And then we had a couple of days where we had our first match, which was June 14th, Germany-Curacao. So those were very busy times building up to that. And then we eventually got into a routine, because nobody’s done this before,” Canetti stated. While Houston’s match hosting concluded with a Round of 16 battle between Canada and Morocco, local operations continued running at full speed: “The busiest times were around when we had the matches here in Houston. We had 21 days when there were matches in Houston, and very, very busy because again, the matches themselves, but also all the different fan bases and the team movements, and all the things that go along with the matches. Then it quieted down a little bit after we played our final match here in Houston on July 4th. But we still had the Fan Fest for two more weeks that kept us going.” Record attendance figures and seamless operational execution Houston hosted seven total World Cup fixtures, with every single match playing to a full-capacity crowd at NRG Stadium for a cumulative attendance of 480,186 spectators, according to the host committee’s official post-tournament report. The venue’s match lineup and official attendance figures included: Germany vs. Curacao: 68,021Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of Congo: 68,777 Netherlands vs. Sweden: 68,777 Portugal vs. Uzbekistan: 68,777Saudi Arabia vs. Cabo Verde: 68,278Brazil vs. Japan: 68,777Morocco vs. Canada: 68,777 Fans of the Netherlands make their way to the stadium. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Out of nearly half a million ticket holders inside the venue, 81% traveled from outside the greater Houston area, representing domestic out-of-state visitors and international travelers. Meanwhile, citywide activations and fan spaces generated over one million total engagements (specifically 1,086,499 participants across official events like the Fan Festival). Reflecting on the final numbers, Canetti noted that stadium turnout aligned with in
Turning their attention back to Europa Conference League qualifying action on Thursday night, Braga will welcome Dinamo Minsk to Portugal for their first-leg showdown. With Europe’s elite domestic leagues set to officially make their respective returns over the next fortnight, there are plenty of eye-catching betting promotions available. Verdict: Braga win to nil Best Odds: […] The post Prediction: Braga vs Dinamo Minsk appeared first on SoccerNews.
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.
While supporters were eager to see the Portuguese icon back on the field, fresh reports have explained why the veteran remains unavailable. Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature when Al-Nassr faces Estrela Amadora in Portugal, with the Saudi champion continuing its preseason preparations under Ange Postecoglou. While supporters were eager to see the Portuguese icon back on the field, fresh reports have explained why the veteran remains unavailable. The absence has generated plenty of discussion because Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to appear in any of Al-Nassr’s preseason fixtures, even as several of his teammates have already returned from international duty. Instead, the club has chosen to move forward with its Portugal training camp while waiting for its captain to rejoin the squad at a later date. So far, Al-Nassr has experienced mixed preseason results. The Saudi Pro League winner lost 2-1 to Benfica B before bouncing back with a 2-0 victory over Spanish side Merida, with further matches against Estrela Amadora and Almeria still scheduled. However, for Estrela Amadora, the match carries significance beyond being another preseason fixture. The Portuguese club is using the game as its official presentation for the 2026-27 campaign, allowing fans to see the squad before the Primeira Liga season begins. The match also launches the inaugural Trofeu Cidade da Amadora, making it an important event for the home club. Troféu 𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐀 𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐀 🆚 AL Nassr pic.twitter.com/uIuacsjcMr— CF Estrela da Amadora (@estrelamadora) August 1, 2026 Estrela itself has an interesting modern history. After the original club entered bankruptcy in 2011, it was re-established in 2020 through a merger, allowing soccer in Amadora to continue at the professional level. The reason why Ronaldo is missing The Portuguese forward is still enjoying his scheduled break following the 2026 World Cup and is not expected to return until after Al-Nassr completes its preseason camp in Lisbon. According to multiple reports, including Saudi journalist Rtiban Al-Dosari, the 41-year-old will not join the squad in Portugal and is instead expected to report once the team returns to Riyadh. Al-Nassr’s overseas camp concludes on August 5, after which the players will receive a short break before final preparations begin for the new Saudi Pro League season. That schedule means Ronaldo is likely to have around one week of full training before the team opens its league title defense against Al-Fateh on August 15. Inigo Martinez and Cristiano Ronaldo in training Ronaldo’s delayed return opens door for Felix Away from soccer, Ronaldo has spent the past several weeks relaxing with his family after the World Cup. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner recently shared vacation photos from Mallorca alongside his son, Cristiano Jr., with one Instagram caption simply reading: “Not yet.” View this post on Instagram The family holiday came after Portugal’s Round of 16 elimination against Spain, a tournament that marked the end of Ronaldo’s World Cup career. Following such an emotional conclusion, both the player and the club appear comfortable allowing additional recovery time before he returns to club duties. With Ronaldo unavailable, his compatriot Joao Felix becomes one of the main attractions for the Knight of Najd. The Portugal international has already spent valuable time adapting to Postecoglou’s tactical ideas and is expected to play a major creative role during the friendly.
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Today’s fluff is riding a unicycleIt’s been a quiet summer thus far for Folarin Balogun, so why not stir up some controversy by signing for the arch rivals of your boyhood club? The Monaco striker, who started his career at Arsenal, is being linked with a move to Tottenham, who need a goalscorer to ensure they do not finish 17th again. The American’s agents have offered him to Roberto De Zerbi’s side to see if they are willing to bite. One forward certainly of interest to the Italian manager is Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson but no bid has been made.This seems like a sensible point to put in some Tottenham and Manchester City gossip. If Savinho heads down south, as has been discussed for a long old while, Enzo Maresca would like Pedro Neto to replace him as a wing demon, having worked with the Portugal international at Chelsea. In further Spurs winger news, Manor Solomon was close to leaving for West Ham but Hull have entered the race as part of their accelerated transfer activity as they seek to ascertain if the Israeli is a Housemartins fan. Continue reading...
Chelsea are close to finalising a deal with Rayo Vallecano for 28-year-old Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria, who has agreed personal terms with the Premier League side. Chelsea are eyeing a move for 26-year-old Porto and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who was previously linked with Manchester United and has a 60m euro (£51m) release clause.
After visiting his teammates during the preseason friendly against Almeria in Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to return to Al Nassr training sessions in the coming days. Cristiano Ronaldo has officially shifted his focus back to club football after paying a visit to his teammates during Tuesday’s friendly exhibition against UD Almeria in Portugal. With the competitive season right around the corner, reports indicate the Portuguese superstar is set to rejoin full Al Nassr training sessions in the coming days. According to a report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, Ronaldo’s post-World Cup vacation has come to an end. The forward had been enjoying extended time off following Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign, spending quality time with family on the island of Mallorca. On Tuesday, Ronaldo stopped by the team’s training facility at the Cidade do Futebol, the national sports complex managed by the Portuguese Football Federation. He reconnected with his teammates on-site and held his first formal meeting with newly appointed head coach Ange Postecoglou. He then watched the preseason match against Almeria, the Spanish second-division club in which he holds a 25% ownership stake. Observing the match alongside former Al Nassr manager and current Portugal national team coach Jorge Jesus, Ronaldo saw Al Nassr wrap up its overseas tour with a 2-0 defeat. Captain Ronaldo meets the squad before #AlNassrAlmeria 🤩🐐 pic.twitter.com/vxQndcX9NF— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) August 4, 2026 Following the loss in Lisbon, Al Nassr will continue sessions in Portugal before returning to Riyadh. Per A Bola, Ronaldo is now cleared to integrate back into full squad training, making his return to the pitch after last appearing professionally in Portugal’s Round of 16 World Cup elimination against Spain on July 6. Ronaldo’s upcoming wedding remains a focal point Al Nassr opens its official 2026-27 campaign on Saturday, August 15, taking on Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League opener, leaving Ronaldo with only a brief window of squad training before matchday. Meanwhile, details surrounding his upcoming wedding will also remain a major headline throughout the week. Reports from The Sun indicate that Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez will tie the knot in Madeira, the island where the legendary goalscorer grew up, selecting his hometown of Funchal for the ceremony. The wedding is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, at the historic Funchal Cathedral, followed by a reception at the five-star Savoy Palace hotel, where two complete floors and exclusive lounge areas have been reserved across Friday and Saturday for high-profile guests.
In an exclusive interview with World Soccer Talk, Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee president Chris Canetti discussed the success after welcoming more than 1 million fans in the city, the excitement around Cristiano Ronaldo, and what will be left as legacy in the U.S. Houston solidified its standing as a major international sports destination during the 2026 World Cup, drawing over one million visitors to the city for matches and surrounding festival events. One of the marquee attractions during the tournament was Cristiano Ronaldo, whose Portugal national team played two matches at NRG Stadium, driving massive crowds and fan engagement across the city. Beyond the Portuguese global icon, the overall tournament generated remarkable momentum, drawing sellout crowds across every single fixture hosted in South Texas. In an exclusive interview with World Soccer Talk, Chris Canetti, president of the Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee, reflected on the logistics and operational triumphs of the North American tournament, the lasting legacy for domestic soccer, and his upcoming career transition. The post-World Cup momentum and operations Two weeks have passed since the conclusion of the largest World Cup in history, spanning record numbers of host cities, venues, participating nations, and total matches. While event operations have naturally scaled back, Canetti emphasized that “there’s so much momentum here in the United States and in Houston from this World Cup,” noting that post-tournament operations remain active. A general view of Houston Stadium. (Jack Gorman/Getty Images) The journey to bring World Cup action to Space City began with the initial united bid back in 2018, receiving formal venue confirmation in June 2022. For Canetti, it represented the culmination of an eight-year campaign that reached its operational peak during match execution. “I think it was very busy leading up to the first day of the World Cup, which for us was the 11th of June, which was the opening of the Fan Festival. And then we had a couple of days where we had our first match, which was June 14th, Germany-Curacao. So those were very busy times building up to that. And then we eventually got into a routine, because nobody’s done this before,” Canetti stated. While Houston’s match hosting concluded with a Round of 16 battle between Canada and Morocco, local operations continued running at full speed: “The busiest times were around when we had the matches here in Houston. We had 21 days when there were matches in Houston, and very, very busy because again, the matches themselves, but also all the different fan bases and the team movements, and all the things that go along with the matches. Then it quieted down a little bit after we played our final match here in Houston on July 4th. But we still had the Fan Fest for two more weeks that kept us going.” Record attendance figures and seamless operational execution Houston hosted seven total World Cup fixtures, with every single match playing to a full-capacity crowd at NRG Stadium for a cumulative attendance of 480,186 spectators, according to the host committee’s official post-tournament report. The venue’s match lineup and official attendance figures included: Germany vs. Curacao: 68,021Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of Congo: 68,777 Netherlands vs. Sweden: 68,777 Portugal vs. Uzbekistan: 68,777Saudi Arabia vs. Cabo Verde: 68,278Brazil vs. Japan: 68,777Morocco vs. Canada: 68,777 Fans of the Netherlands make their way to the stadium. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Out of nearly half a million ticket holders inside the venue, 81% traveled from outside the greater Houston area, representing domestic out-of-state visitors and international travelers. Meanwhile, citywide activations and fan spaces generated over one million total engagements (specifically 1,086,499 participants across official events like the Fan Festival). Reflecting on the final numbers, Canetti noted that stadium turnout aligned with in
Turning their attention back to Europa Conference League qualifying action on Thursday night, Braga will welcome Dinamo Minsk to Portugal for their first-leg showdown. With Europe’s elite domestic leagues set to officially make their respective returns over the next fortnight, there are plenty of eye-catching betting promotions available. Verdict: Braga win to nil Best Odds: […] The post Prediction: Braga vs Dinamo Minsk appeared first on SoccerNews.
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.
While supporters were eager to see the Portuguese icon back on the field, fresh reports have explained why the veteran remains unavailable. Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature when Al-Nassr faces Estrela Amadora in Portugal, with the Saudi champion continuing its preseason preparations under Ange Postecoglou. While supporters were eager to see the Portuguese icon back on the field, fresh reports have explained why the veteran remains unavailable. The absence has generated plenty of discussion because Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to appear in any of Al-Nassr’s preseason fixtures, even as several of his teammates have already returned from international duty. Instead, the club has chosen to move forward with its Portugal training camp while waiting for its captain to rejoin the squad at a later date. So far, Al-Nassr has experienced mixed preseason results. The Saudi Pro League winner lost 2-1 to Benfica B before bouncing back with a 2-0 victory over Spanish side Merida, with further matches against Estrela Amadora and Almeria still scheduled. However, for Estrela Amadora, the match carries significance beyond being another preseason fixture. The Portuguese club is using the game as its official presentation for the 2026-27 campaign, allowing fans to see the squad before the Primeira Liga season begins. The match also launches the inaugural Trofeu Cidade da Amadora, making it an important event for the home club. Troféu 𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐀 𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐀 🆚 AL Nassr pic.twitter.com/uIuacsjcMr— CF Estrela da Amadora (@estrelamadora) August 1, 2026 Estrela itself has an interesting modern history. After the original club entered bankruptcy in 2011, it was re-established in 2020 through a merger, allowing soccer in Amadora to continue at the professional level. The reason why Ronaldo is missing The Portuguese forward is still enjoying his scheduled break following the 2026 World Cup and is not expected to return until after Al-Nassr completes its preseason camp in Lisbon. According to multiple reports, including Saudi journalist Rtiban Al-Dosari, the 41-year-old will not join the squad in Portugal and is instead expected to report once the team returns to Riyadh. Al-Nassr’s overseas camp concludes on August 5, after which the players will receive a short break before final preparations begin for the new Saudi Pro League season. That schedule means Ronaldo is likely to have around one week of full training before the team opens its league title defense against Al-Fateh on August 15. Inigo Martinez and Cristiano Ronaldo in training Ronaldo’s delayed return opens door for Felix Away from soccer, Ronaldo has spent the past several weeks relaxing with his family after the World Cup. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner recently shared vacation photos from Mallorca alongside his son, Cristiano Jr., with one Instagram caption simply reading: “Not yet.” View this post on Instagram The family holiday came after Portugal’s Round of 16 elimination against Spain, a tournament that marked the end of Ronaldo’s World Cup career. Following such an emotional conclusion, both the player and the club appear comfortable allowing additional recovery time before he returns to club duties. With Ronaldo unavailable, his compatriot Joao Felix becomes one of the main attractions for the Knight of Najd. The Portugal international has already spent valuable time adapting to Postecoglou’s tactical ideas and is expected to play a major creative role during the friendly.
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