Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start for Al-Nassr as the defending champions open their 2026-27 Saudi Pro League title defence against Al-Fateh at Alawwal Park on Saturday evening.
The 41-year-old Portuguese forward returned to full first-team training this week following his post-World Cup break and marriage is set to lead the attack under newly appointed head coach Ange Postecoglou.
Fitness and Starting Status
Ronaldo reported back to the club’s training ground in Riyadh after concluding his summer break, during which he represented Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and celebrated his wedding with long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez.
Postecoglou confirmed ahead of the fixture that the team captain has maintained peak physical condition and participated fully in tactical preparations. Ronaldo is in line to headline a formidable forward unit featuring Sadio Mané, João Félix, and Kingsley Coman.
Postecoglou’s League Debut and Squad Dynamics
The encounter marks Postecoglou’s first official league match in charge of the Riyadh club.Following an experimental pre-season period, Al-Nassr will be keen to establish momentum from the opening matchday.
Al-Fateh, guided by manager Khaled Al-Atwi, enter the campaign aiming to rebound from an 11th-place finish last season.The visitors have integrated new summer signings, including winger Lukáš Haraslín, into their squad as they seek their first league win against Al-Nassr since 2020.
Milestone Chase: The Countdown to 1,000 Career Goals
Saturday’s fixture also marks the commencement of Ronaldo’s 25th senior professional season. With 976 career goals recorded for club and country, the forward enters the 2026-27 campaign requiring 24 more strikes to become the first footballer in history to reach the 1,000-goal milestone