Ronaldo's Al-Nassr match delayed an hour by Riyadh missile alert
In brief
Al-Nassr's AFC Champions League Elite game against Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh on 12 October 2026 kicked off about an hour late after a Houthi missile aimed at the Saudi capital was shot down. Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Al-Nassr won 3-1.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr started their AFC Champions League Elite home game against Uzbek side Neftchi Fergana roughly an hour late in Riyadh on Monday 12 October 2026. According to The Guardian, the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia announced that air defences had brought down a missile launched at the capital by Yemen's Houthi movement. L'Équipe also reported that kick-off was held back by close to an hour after a ballistic missile was intercepted.
Once the game got under way, Al-Nassr won 3-1. The 41-year-old Portugal forward scored the hosts' second goal, played the full 90 minutes and finished with a rating of 8.08, according to ScoreLab data. After the final whistle Ronaldo waved a scarf bearing the Saudi flag towards the stands.
Why was the match delayed?
The match was not postponed; kick-off was pushed back because of a missile alert over Riyadh. The game at Alawwal Park had been scheduled to start at 9.15pm local time. The Guardian reported that the stadium announcer reassured a thin crowd that there was no danger and the fixture would go ahead, urging supporters not to leave their places. Some outlets described the trigger as drone alerts, while The Guardian and L'Équipe pointed to the intercepted missile.
The delay came against the backdrop of a wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Guardian noted that the Iran-backed Houthis have lately struck the kingdom's oil installations, tankers and transport infrastructure, with Riyadh's international airport hit several times in attacks that caused deaths. Al Jazeera likewise reported that the Yemeni group had aimed at the Saudi capital and struck its airport.
How is Ronaldo's form?
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored in back-to-back games. ScoreLab data shows he also found the net on 9 October 2026 in a 3-0 Saudi Pro League win over Al Diriyah, earning player of the match with an 8.52 rating. The Neftchi Fergana result gave Al-Nassr their first AFC Champions League Elite win of the campaign after a 4-0 defeat away to Al-Ain on 15 September 2026.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| vs Neftchi Fergana | 90 min, 1 goal, 8.08 rating |
| vs Al Diriyah (9 Oct) | 1 goal, 8.52 rating |
| Saudi Pro League 2026/27 | 7 games, 4 goals, 514 min |
| League average rating | 7.34 |
| Portugal | 234 caps, 146 goals |
| Club career | 1080 games, 825 goals |
Source: ScoreLab data
What happens next?
None of the sources carry a statement from the Asian Football Confederation or the Saudi Arabian Football Federation on how the security situation in Riyadh might affect upcoming fixtures. Al-Nassr continue their Saudi Pro League and AFC Champions League Elite schedule, and Ronaldo's contract runs until 30 June 2027, according to ScoreLab data. ScoreLab will update this story as it develops.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
Was Ronaldo's match in Riyadh postponed?
No. Al-Nassr vs Neftchi Fergana was not postponed; it kicked off about an hour late after a missile aimed at Riyadh was shot down.
What was the score in Al-Nassr vs Neftchi Fergana?
Al-Nassr won 3-1, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the second goal and playing the full 90 minutes.
What did Ronaldo do after the match?
Ronaldo waved a scarf bearing the Saudi flag towards the stands after the final whistle.
What caused the delay?
The coalition led by Saudi Arabia announced it had downed a Houthi missile heading for the capital, and kick-off was put back after the alert.
This analysis was prepared by the ScoreLab Newsroom using the sources listed and ScoreLab data. Editorial policy