Joao Félix Shines Without Ronaldo

Al-Nassr didn’t need Cristiano Ronaldo to secure a place in the next round of the King Cup of Champions. In their 4-0 win over Jeddah, all eyes were on Joao Félix, who delivered a goal and an assist to continue his dream start in Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese forward now has seven goals and two assists across all competitions since his summer arrival, showing a resurgence few expected.

The former Chelsea striker spearheaded Al-Nassr’s attack with confidence, becoming the main figure in a match completely dominated by the Saudi giants. His performance, once again, underlined that he could be the perfect partner—or even the spotlight sharer—for Ronaldo this season.

Ronaldo Benched by Jorge Jesus

The big surprise came with Cristiano Ronaldo, who despite scoring a brace against Al-Riyadh last weekend, did not feature at all. The 40-year-old superstar remained on the bench throughout the entire game, sparking plenty of debate.

Head coach Jorge Jesus was quick to clarify the situation after the match: “I was looking to maintain his fitness and prepare him for the upcoming league matches.” His words made it clear—Ronaldo’s rest was not about form, but about priorities, with the Saudi Pro League being the main target.

Next Stop: Al-Ittihad

All signs point to Ronaldo’s return to the starting lineup in Al-Nassr’s next crucial clash. On Saturday, they will face Al-Ittihad, the reigning champions, in a top-of-the-table battle. Both teams are level on points, separated only by goal difference, making the encounter decisive for early dominance in the league.

With Ronaldo rested and Joao Félix in red-hot form, Al-Nassr head into the showdown with confidence. The Portuguese legend has already scored four goals this season, but the rise of Félix means Al-Nassr now boast two attacking stars capable of tipping the scales in the Saudi Pro League.