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October 2, 2025
Ronaldo’s workload at Al-Nassr is about to change. New coach Jorge Jesus has revealed plans to manage the 40-year-old by limiting him to roughly 75% of matches, a move designed to preserve his fitness and extend his impact for both club and country...
Cristiano Ronaldo has made a career out of proving people wrong. Yet even he knows that 40 years old in football isn’t the same as 25. Jorge Jesus, freshly in charge of Al-Nassr, seems determined to handle that reality head-on. His idea? Keep Ronaldo on the pitch for roughly three out of every four games — a rotation policy that might extend his influence, but also test his ego and the patience of fans worldwide... And for those looking to place your bets on bookmakers like CopyBet, make sure to confirm Ronaldo won't be missing out from Al Nassr's upcoming games, otherwise the odds might not be properly adjusted.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Next
When Ronaldo signed his new deal to stay in Riyadh until 2027, many wondered if he could truly keep going into his forties. Physically, he still looks like an outlier. But Saudi football has changed quickly. The pace is sharper, the travel is long, and more international stars arrive each season.
Enter Jorge Jesus, the Portuguese coach known for his strict tactical approach and occasional blunt honesty. He has managed big personalities before, but Ronaldo is a different scale altogether. One of his first moves? Making clear that protecting his star’s legs is as much a priority as chasing results.
It didn’t take long for the plan to surface. Reports broke that Ronaldo would feature in about 75% of matches, with rest days sprinkled throughout the season. And then came the evidence: Ronaldo absent from a continental clash, with Jesus calmly explaining afterwards that “it was the right moment to rest him” and that injuries were always on his mind.
It was a jarring sight for fans who are used to seeing Ronaldo play every available minute. For years he pushed against being substituted, sometimes with visible frustration. Now, the conversation has shifted — not about whether he can still deliver, but about how often.
On one hand, the logic is undeniable. Fewer minutes mean fewer risks. Ronaldo has carried a staggering workload across two decades, and a lighter schedule could keep him sharper when it matters most: decisive league games, cup finals, and Portugal’s run toward the 2026 World Cup. Preserving him now could pay off two years from now.
But it’s not that simple. Footballers live on rhythm. Ronaldo has always been a creature of repetition, of constant competition. Being told to sit out games against mid-table sides in the Saudi league might not sit easily with a man obsessed with goals and records. There’s also the spectacle factor: fans buy tickets to see him, not watch him rest in the stands.
For Jesus, it’s a balancing act. Bench Ronaldo too often and Al-Nassr’s system looks completely different. His mere presence changes how opponents defend, opening space for João Félix and others to exploit. Without him, the attack loses some of its gravity.
The plan seems to be using Ronaldo in heavyweight fixtures while rotating in others. It means squad players will get more responsibility, which could strengthen the depth of the team in the long run. Still, every time Ronaldo is absent, expect debates to rage on talk shows and social media. In Saudi football, he isn’t just a player — he’s the headline.
All of this, of course, isn’t just about Riyadh. Portugal are eyeing a World Cup run in 2026, and Ronaldo’s availability for Roberto Martínez could hinge on how well he’s managed at club level. If Jesus’ approach works, Portugal might have a fresher, more decisive version of Ronaldo when the world is watching.
There’s also the legacy angle. Aging gracefully in football is difficult. Zlatan did it in bursts, Messi is doing it in Miami, and Ronaldo now faces his own version of the challenge. Playing 75% of matches doesn’t mean being less important — it could mean being smarter about when to be at his devastating best.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Portugal is on October 11, against Ireland, for the the World Cup Qualifiers. You can watch Portugal vs Ireland, AS Roma vs Lille, Nottingham F. vs Midtjylland, Feyenoord vs Aston Villa, Dynamo Kiev vs Crystal Palace and Bournemouth vs Fulham, all matches provided from our football streaming game pages.
Portugal next game:
Portugal vs Ireland kick-off time (11-10-2025):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 02:45
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 00:15
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 21:45
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 20:45
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 19:56
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 16:45
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 15:45
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 12:45
Sources: ronaldo7.net / reuters.com / beinsports.com
