In a major disappointment for Indian football fans, Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly not travel to India for the Al-Nassr AFC Champions League 2 match against FC Goa, despite several requests from the Indian club. The decision comes in the same year that Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning Argentina team are set to visit India for an international friendly against Australia – a missed chance for fans to see both global icons in action on Indian soil.
According to Saudi daily Al Riyadhiah, the 40-year-old Portuguese star has opted out of traveling team Al-Nassr for the Group D match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on October 22. FC Goa management reportedly urged Al-Nassr to include Ronaldo in the squad, hoping his presence would attract the attention of the locals.
Al-Nassr will arrive in Goa late on Monday night for their third group stage match of the tournament. The Saudi Arabian club have already won both of their AFC Champions League 2 matches without Ronaldo and remain well placed to advance to the knockout stages.
Reports suggest that Ronaldo’s contract allows him to miss matches outside of Saudi Arabia, giving him flexibility in managing his workload. With his focus on maintaining peak fitness ahead of next year’s World Cup, the veteran striker has decided not to make the long trip to India.
Speculation about his possible visit increased after his name was reportedly included in the Al-Nassr visa application list submitted to the Indian authorities. Speaking to The Indian Express, FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur said:
“We are not clear at the moment. His team said they are looking into the options and will make a decision shortly. We are monitoring but have no confirmation yet. As part of the protocol, each visiting club sends a list of their traveling contingent for visa applications and Ronaldo’s application is included in the 28-man squad.”
FC Goa, who qualified for the AFC Champions League 2 by defeating Al Seeb, were drawn in the same group as Al-Nassr – a pairing that created huge excitement among Indian football fans. However, Ronaldo’s absence will be a big disappointment, especially in a year when Messi’s upcoming visit has already created unprecedented buzz around international football in India.
Despite Ronaldo’s no-show, Fatorda remains historic for Indian football, with the ISL club hosting one of Asia’s most prominent teams in the continental competition. After the match, Al-Nassr will return home to prepare for their King’s Cup Round of 16 match against Al-Ittihad on 28 October.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
October 20, 2025
