ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Football superstar and AlNassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo will not travel to Iraq to play in a much-anticipated match in the capital Baghdad against Al-Shorta, the Saudi Arabian club announced on Sunday.
Ronaldo’s AlNassr is scheduled to play against Iraqi league champions Al-Shorta in the first match of the Asian Champions League on Monday at the Al-Madina International Stadium in Baghdad.
“AlNassr Captain Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t feeling well today and was diagnosed with a viral infection,” said a statement from AlNassr on X, adding that doctors confirmed that the Portuguese forward must miss the match.
“As a result he will not be travelling with the team to Iraq today,” continued the statement.
Thousands of Iraqis oozed in excitement after the tournament draw in August put Al-Shorta and AlNassr in the same group.
The possible arrival of the five-time best player in the world to Baghdad sold out Al-Madina stadium, with ticket prices increasing to 200,000 Iraqi dinars (about $133). The ticket price was originally 25,000 dinars (about $17).
Ronaldo is a five-time Balon d’Or (Golden Ball) winner for the best player in the world, and a four-time Golden Boot winner for the best goalscorer of a season in Europe.
The Portuguese talisman marked the 900th goal of his career earlier this month, the highest tally of official goals by a single player in history. He is followed by Argentine superstar and world champion Lionel Messi with 840 goals.
Prior to AlNassr, Ronaldo played for several European elites throughout his career, such as Manchester United, Juventus, and reigning European champions Real Madrid.
