Riyadh, 04 March (H.S.): Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury, his club Al Nassr officially confirmed Tuesday night.The five-time Ballon d'Or winner picked up the knock during Saturday's 3-1 Saudi Pro League victory over Al Fayha, limping off in the 81st minute despite coach Jorge Jesus initially downplaying it as mere muscle fatigue.

Al Nassr's statement noted: He has started a rehabilitation program and will be under daily evaluation. The club refrained from specifying whether it's a strain or tear, or providing a return timeline for the 41-year-old.Social media photos showed Ronaldo weight training in the team gym Tuesday, signaling his determination to bounce back swiftly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup—his sixth career edition, hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.

Ronaldo's absence compounds Al Nassr's challenges amid regional disruptions, with their next league clash set for Saturday against Neom.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar