Cut by 25 per cent! Cristiano Ronaldo plan drawn up by Al-Nassr that will limit opportunities in pursuit of 1,000 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to have his playing time reduced by 25% during the 2025-26 season as Al-Nassr implements a strategy to protect the 40-year-old from injury. The club aims to carefully manage his workload moving forward.

This plan, reported by Saudi journalist Falah Al Qahtani, follows discussions between Ronaldo and incoming Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus. Both parties agreed that the Portuguese superstar should not be pushed to his physical limits.

Ronaldo featured in 41 of Al-Nassr's 50 games in 2024-25, but the club now intends to rotate him even more frequently. This includes controlling his minutes during both matches and training sessions, with the option for him to miss fixtures deemed less important.

The reduced schedule aligns with Ronaldo's ambition to represent Portugal at the 2026 World Cup and Al-Nassr's desire to keep him fit for crucial moments, as he remains determined to win more trophies in Saudi Arabia. Despite maintaining peak condition, both acknowledge the physical realities of his age.

Ronaldo, who recently signed a record-breaking two-year contract extension taking him past his 42nd birthday, is also focused on achieving 1,000 career goals and has won consecutive Golden Boots in the Saudi Pro League.