Cristiano Ronaldo Approaches 1,000 Goals Amid Controversy with National Team
Ronaldo's Milestone Goal and Ongoing Issues
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 13, Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer, moved closer to achieving 1,000 professional goals by scoring his 981st during Al Nassr's 3-1 victory against Neftchi in the AFC Champions League Elite match on Monday.
Ronaldo's impressive performance comes amid ongoing speculation regarding his future with the national team, particularly following his departure from the national camp during the UEFA Nations League. This has led to a growing rift with head coach Jorge Jesus, resulting in a provisional suspension from the Portuguese Football Federation as disciplinary actions are initiated against the 41-year-old.
Al Nassr took the lead with a goal from Angelo Gabriel in the 33rd minute, followed by Ronaldo's contribution just nine minutes later. Neftchi's Alisher Odilov managed to score in the 51st minute, but an own goal by Anvarjon Gofurov in the 78th minute secured the win for Al Nassr, leaving the score unchanged until the final whistle.
After the match, Ronaldo shared his thoughts on Instagram, stating, "Important win tonight. We keep building."
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The Portuguese Football Federation's disciplinary council has placed Ronaldo under a non-automatic suspension, categorizing the case as "urgent." This marks the first disciplinary action against him while the investigation is ongoing, as reported by various sources.
According to an official statement from the Portuguese football governing body, the decision was made following a meeting of the non-professional section. Ronaldo had already faced an automatic provisional suspension until the investigation commenced. The council has now added a precautionary suspension that is not automatic, while designating the case as urgent. The investigation committee will handle the details, which will remain confidential until its conclusion.
Ronaldo's early departure from the national camp occurred just a day before their match against Denmark, following his benching in the previous game against Norway.
Before the match, he was instructed to warm up with the expectation of playing in the second half. However, coach Jesus opted not to include him in the game, leading to Ronaldo's frustration. While Jesus cited tactical reasons for the decision, it has only exacerbated the existing tension between the two.
Due to the Portuguese football governing body's disciplinary regulations, Ronaldo faces a potential suspension ranging from one to six months, along with a fine, if his departure is deemed unjustified.
The regulations state that any player who leaves without justification after being called up, or misses training or matches, may face a suspension of one to six months, and if they are a professional, a fine between 5 and 10 accounting units.
For Ronaldo, this fine could range from 500 to 1,000 euros.