File picture of Cristiano Ronaldo. © AFP Cristiano Ronaldo was detected on Sunday with a viral infection and will miss out on Al Nassr’s Asian Champions League opener today at Iraq’s Al Shorta. The Portuguese veteran is targeting Asia’s leading club crown to contribute to his long list of accomplishments when the competitors begins on Monday. “Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo was not feeling well today and was detected with a viral infection,” stated a club declaration published on social networks platform X on Sunday. “The group’s medical professional verified he requires to rest and remain at home. As an outcome he will not be taking a trip with the group to Iraq today. We want our captain a fast healing.” The previous Real Madrid and Manchester United forward saw his very first effort with the Saudi side Al Nassr end in a quarter-final charge shootout defeat to ultimate champs Al Ain previously this year. Now rebranded as the Asian Champions League Elite, Al Nassr and the other groups from Saudi Arabia will be a significant risk after investing huge amounts of cash in the last 2 years on the similarity Ronaldo and Neymar. England forward Ivan Toney was the most recent huge name to switch Europe for Saudi when he left Brentford for Al Ahli last month for more than $45 million. As part of the new-look competitors, Saudi Arabia– which is anticipated to host the 2034 World Cup– will stage a tiny knockout competition from the quarter-finals onward to choose the champs, who will take home a minimum of $12 million. Al Nassr, Al Ahli and Neymar’s Al Hilal will all be included when the Champions League Elite launches on Monday with a brand-new format that divides 24 groups equally into 2 groups of East and West. Each group will play 8 various challengers in the group phase. The leading 8 groups from each zone will play in the last 16 over 2 legs in March, before the action relocates to the lasts in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 4. – Injured Neymar missing out on – Saudi champs Al Hilal are aiming to win a record-extendi
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