Cristiano Ronaldo has reunited with his Al-Nassr teammates for the first time since Portugal’s exit from the 2026 World Cup.
The Portuguese superstar travelled to Lisbon to watch Al-Nassr’s pre-season friendly against Spanish side Almeria on Tuesday.
Al-Nassr were beaten 2-0 by Almeria in the fourth and final friendly of their overseas training camp in the Portuguese capital.
The first half ended goalless before Almeria came out firing after the break, scoring twice inside roughly a quarter of an hour.
A video posted on Al-Nassr’s official X account showed Ronaldo arriving at the match to shake hands with the squad and new head coach Ange Postecoglou.
The club also posted an image of the pair shaking hands and embracing, with Ronaldo interrupting his post-World Cup holiday to attend.
It marked the first meeting between Ronaldo and Postecoglou since the Australian was appointed as head coach of the Saudi Pro League champions.
Ronaldo had not seen his Al-Nassr players or their new coach since Portugal’s round of 16 exit at the World Cup, a 1-0 defeat to Spain on 6 July.
Postecoglou and his staff are convinced the most suitable way to prepare Ronaldo for the new campaign is to ease him back into training rather than risk him in friendlies.
Since returning to the club, the veteran forward has been following an individual conditioning programme, with his absence considered a planned fitness decision rather than an injury or disciplinary concern.
Postecoglou signed a two-year contract with Al-Nassr after a previous eight-game stint in charge of Nottingham Forest last season ended his time in English football.
The 60-year-old, who won five major honours during two seasons with Celtic, had also been linked with the vacant Scotland manager post following Steve Clarke’s resignation.
Although Ronaldo is Postecoglou’s highest-profile player, his squad also includes the likes of Sadio Mané, Kingsley Coman and João Félix.
Almeria, the Spanish club co-owned by Ronaldo, used the occasion to sharpen their squad ahead of the new Segunda Division season, with the match staged at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras.
