Here's the shocking reason Ronaldo won't play with Al-Nassr tonight

Cristiano Ronaldo will not accompany his Saudi team Al-Nassr to Iran for tonight's Asian Champions League round of 16 match against Esteghlal, scheduled for 18:00 local time. The Portuguese superstar's absence has sparked speculation in international media, with two primary explanations emerging.

Several European media outlets, particularly Italian publications like Corriere dello Sport, suggest Ronaldo faces potential legal consequences in Iran stemming from a previous visit to Tehran. According to these reports, approximately two years ago, Ronaldo allegedly hugged and kissed a female fan who requested his autograph—an action that violates local laws. These sources claim the punishment for such an offense could be as severe as 100 lashes. However, multiple online sources have disputed this explanation, labeling it as "fake news."

Alternative reports focus on security concerns as the primary reason for Ronaldo's absence. During Al-Nassr's previous match against Esteghlal in October, the team experienced significant security challenges when numerous fans breached the security perimeter at their Tehran hotel in attempts to see the famous footballer. The situation escalated further when hundreds of supporters surrounded the team bus. Following these incidents, Al-Nassr reportedly attempted to relocate the match from Tehran but were unsuccessful. The club ultimately determined they could not guarantee Ronaldo's safety under these circumstances.

It's worth noting that for the October match, Al-Nassr had previously requested a venue change from Iran due to concerns about potential Israeli military action in the region.

While tonight's match will proceed in Iran without Ronaldo, the Saudi team hopes to perform adequately despite missing their star player. The return leg of this Asian Champions League fixture will take place in Saudi Arabia next week.