RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo’s and his famed PR prowess are in full flow. Al-Nassr and the Saudi Pro League are standing their ground. And fans and pundits across the Kingdom and around the world are having their say.

The fallout from Ronaldo’s refusal to play for Al-Nassr since the last day of the winter transfer window continues to be felt almost a week on.

It is safe to say the direction of Saudi football itself has shifted dramatically since the turn of the month. With the transfer window initially not producing any fireworks, it seemed like all the focus would return to the title race between Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Qadsiah as the season entered its final third.

That changed following a contract renewal dispute between Karim Benzema and Al-Ittihad, which led to the Frenchman’s departure. A swift move to Al-Nassr’s city rivals and league leaders Al-Hilal followed, leading to the dramatic fallout that caused shockwaves across the football industry.

The repercussions of Benzema’s transfer have reshaped the league’s landscape. Ronaldo, reportedly frustrated that Al-Nassr had only signed Hayder Abdulkareem from Al-Zawraa and Abdullah Al-Hamdan from Al-Hilal, withdrew from his side’s clash with Al-Riyadh on Feb. 2.

As reports emerged suggesting that Ronaldo was unhappy with the way the Public Investment Fund was managing the league’s four major clubs, global media attention turned to how the situation would unfold.

Despite the noise off the field, Al-Nassr remain just one point behind Al-Hilal in the title race with more than a third of the league still to play.

The side endured a difficult run against Al-Qadsiah, Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal, but the league remains wide open with all four sides still in contention.

While Ronaldo returned to training amid false reports of his departure from the Kingdom, he missed a second consecutive match on Feb. 6 — a 2-0 win against Benzema’s former club Al-Ittihad.

It is fair to say that the controversy has been the biggest seen in Saudi football since Ronaldo joined at the end of 2022, and arguably one of the biggest ever.

It is not the first time that the 41-year-old star has leveraged his status in world football to drive his ambitions, and his grievances, to the fore. His move to Saudi Arabia had taken place following an infamous interview with Piers Morgan, where he criticized his then-club Manchester United, leading to his signing for Al-Nassr.

Now, with no clarity on whether Ronaldo will feature against Al-Fateh on Feb. 14, questions surrounding his immediate future remain unanswered.

A day prior to the Al-Ittihad encounter, a Saudi Pro League spokesperson revealed in an official statement to the BBC that “no individual — however significant — determines decisions beyond their own club.”

However, a source to Al-Arabiya outlined four factors behind Ronaldo’s reported dissatisfaction.

Firstly, Al-Nassr were said to be close to signing Saud Abdulhamid, but the deal collapsed amid claims Al-Hilal believed the player’s return to the league should only be through them.

Secondly, the source claimed Al-Nassr did not receive the same backing as Al-Hilal during the transfer window.

Thirdly, the league leaders made four foreign signings, including Benzema, as opposed to Al-Nassr’s solitary addition.

Finally, the source alleged that Ronaldo believes Al-Nassr’s CEO and sporting director were restricted in their ability to operate.

While a number of fans voiced support for Ronaldo, alternative viewpoints emerged as his absence continued.

Sports lawyer Ahmed Al-Shikhi posted on social media that, based on the official FIFA Transfer Matching System data for 2025, Al-Nassr is the highest spending club not just in Saudi Arabia, but across Asia.

Others pointed to Al-Nassr’s recruitment record since Ronaldo’s arrival: 24 signings, three head coaches and three separate management structures.

Some fans noted that despite the club’s heavy spending, Al-Nassr remain the only member of Saudi Arabia’s traditional “big four” not to have won a trophy since Ronaldo’s arrival.

Ultimately, the situation underscored the growing tension between individual star power and institutional governance within the Saudi Pro League.

As the title race is set to enter its decisive phase in the coming weeks — and a looming Riyadh derby that could prove pivotal late in the season — it remains to be seen whether Ronaldo’s absence proves a momentary protest or a sign of deeper friction that will become clearer in the coming weeks.

For now, the episode has shone a light on the fact that the Saudi Pro League’s evolution is enduring a more complex phase — one where the battle between stars and structure proves difficult to govern.