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July 16, 2025
Ronaldo might be seen less times on the field next season — but it’s not what you think. Al-Nassr is reportedly planning to cut his playing time it what could end up being a very smart call from new manager Jorge Jesus.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be spending a little less time on the pitch next season, and it’s not due to injury or a drop in form. Reports say Al-Nassr has made the call to reduce his minutes by about 25% for the 2025–26 campaign. It’s a decision the new Al Nassr manager, Jorge Jesus, has obviously made part of and that is already raising eyebrows. Nevertheless and judging from what we've seen in the last couple seasons, it also makes a lot of sense once you look at the full picture...
Cristiano Ronaldo - Never let us down
A few things are driving this shift. First, it’s about his body. Ronaldo has played more matches than most players can dream of, and with age, recovery takes longer. Al-Nassr will not burn him out on games that do not count.
And then there is the big one: 1,000 career goals. He is already beyond the 880 mark now, and the club is sure that he can continue hitting the target without getting injured and burning out with clever rotation.
The plan? Deploy him less in less important games, say in the middle of the table league games and first rounds of cups, and play him all out in the big ones. No one’s putting Ronaldo on the bench for good. They’re just being strategic.
This kind of careful management isn’t new in football, especially for players who’ve been at the top for two decades. It’s becoming more common to rotate stars to keep them sharper. But because it’s Ronaldo, every tweak gets magnified.
If you’re someone who bets on football, this change matters. Especially when it comes to goal-scoring odds, appearance bets, and fantasy picks. You’ll want to watch the team sheets closer than ever before.
Sites that move quickly with updates and don’t leave you waiting around are going to be key here. That’s where using the fastest payout sportsbook can help. When a player like Ronaldo is in and out of the lineup more frequently, fast info and faster withdrawals make a real difference. Especially when goals, assists, or even minutes played could swing the outcome of your bet.
Another factor in this change is Jorge Jesus, Al-Nassr’s new head coach. He’s got experience managing older stars and isn't afraid to shuffle his lineup when needed. In a physically demanding competition like the Saudi Arabia Pro League, managing minutes becomes even more important. Jesus is the kind of coach who looks at data, not just names, and he's reportedly working closely with the club’s medical and sports science team to keep Ronaldo at his best.
This isn’t guesswork. It’s the result of analyzing his sprint speed, recovery time, match output, and everything else that helps gauge performance. If the numbers say less is more, then that’s the route they’ll take.
Jesus is expected to start Ronaldo on the bench more often in smaller matches, or sub him out early if the game’s already in hand. But when it’s time for a title decider, an AFC Champions League knockout, or an international break, Ronaldo’s going to be there, ready to deliver.
And of course, we have the World Cup ahead of us. The 2026 event will most likely be Ronaldo's final ever major comeback at the international level, and remaining physically fit to represent the Portuguese is a mutually common interest.
Understandably, fans had mixed feelings at first. Some worried they’d see less of their favorite player. After all, this is Ronaldo we’re talking about. People tune in just to watch him play.
But as more details came out, the reaction mellowed. Most now see this as a smart way to get the most out of Ronaldo for as long as possible. Instead of risking fatigue in every match, Al-Nassr is trying to make sure he’s still producing world-class moments well into his 40s.
Pundits have largely backed the move, too. Analysts point to similar strategies used for players like Luka Modrić and Zlatan Ibrahimović in their later years, playing fewer minutes but making them count.
Still, it won’t be perfect. Some fans may be disappointed when Ronaldo’s not in the starting eleven. Ticket sales and TV ratings could take a small hit when he's rested. But long-term, this could extend his career by a season or two, and that’s something both the club and his supporters would welcome.
With Ronaldo sitting out more often, others will need to step up. That means more responsibility for players like Talisca, Ghareeb, and some of the younger forwards in the squad. The team will rely on them to deliver in matches where Ronaldo’s not on the pitch.
That’s a good thing. It builds depth. And when you’re playing across multiple competitions, league, cup, AFC Champions League, you need more than just one go-to star.
You also get the added bonus of letting younger players learn from Ronaldo directly. Even if he’s not on the field, he’s on the training ground, in the locker room, setting the standard. That kind of leadership is hard to buy.
Ronaldo’s reduced minutes won’t slow the story down. If anything, they might make each appearance more meaningful. He’ll be fresher, more explosive, and more focused when he does play. He’s still got the ambition, the hunger, and the skills. The club’s just making sure his body can keep up with his goals.
Will he hit 1,000 goals? That’s still on the table. Will he show up big in the Champions League and at the 2026 World Cup? That’s the plan. And with the right balance of rest and play, he might just surprise us all, again.
This adjustment may be subtle at first, but it shows Al-Nassr is thinking ahead. They’re not just counting on Ronaldo to win them games; they’re making sure he’s around to win the ones that really count.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on August 19, against Al Ittihad, for the Saudi Super Cup. You can watch Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad, Liverpool vs Milan, Vissel Kobe vs Barcelona, Man United vs Leeds, Reading vs Spurs and Arsenal vs AC Milan, all matches provided from our live soccer game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad kick-off time (19-08-2025):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 20:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 17:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 15:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 14:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 13:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 10:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 09:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 06:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / bbc.com / espn.com
