Cristiano Ronaldo Starts for Al Nassr in AFC Champions League Opener Against Al Ain

Al Nassr begins their 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite campaign on September 15, facing UAE's Al Ain at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. The match marks the opening of the tournament for Al Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed to be in the starting lineup.

Ronaldo, who has been fully fit after participating in recent training sessions and playing 90 minutes against Al Khaleej, is expected to play a crucial role in the match. He has been active in a busy schedule, having played in three matches within eight days earlier in September.

This encounter will be the third time Ronaldo competes against Al Ain while representing Al Nassr. Previous meetings include a penalty shootout loss in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League quarterfinals and a 5-1 victory in the 2024-25 group stage, where Ronaldo scored. The match against Al Ain is also Al Nassr's last before the upcoming international break.