World Cup News

CRISTIANO RONALDO was forced to rush off and “throw up” after suffering stomach pains during Al Nassr’s win on Wednesday night. The Portuguese superstar, 41, battled through illness in the 1-0 victory over Al Ettifaq before being subbed in injury time. But boss Jorge Jesus revealed Ronaldo was struggling badly throughout the game. He said:...

After Al Nassr's last game, head coach Jorge Jesus explained that Cristiano Ronaldo's early exit to the locker room was due to star suffering from "stomach pains." Cristiano Ronaldo has been the cornerstone of Al Nassr’s recent surge, but his blistering goalscoring streak came to a halt Wednesday against Al Ettifaq. Following a uncharacteristically quiet performance from the club’s captain, head coach Jorge Jesus revealed that Ronaldo’s abrupt exit to the locker room was the result of “stomach pains” the forward had been battling since before kickoff. After returning from a hamstring injury in March, Ronaldo had been flawless, netting a brace against Al Najma and a clinical strike against Al Okhdood to keep Al Nassr’s title hopes alive. However, his impact against Al Ettifaq was far more subdued; despite registering seven shots, only two found the target, and he uncharacteristically squandered a golden opportunity in the 47th minute. Ronaldo was eventually subbed off in the 89th minute for Abdullah Al-Hamdan, but rather than joining his teammates on the bench, the Portuguese icon headed straight down the tunnel. While his departure initially sparked speculation regarding his frustration with the substitution, Jorge Jesus was quick to clear the air during his post-match press conference. When asked about his star player, the Portuguese manager admitted that Ronaldo was nearly omitted from the lineup entirely. “I considered leaving him out; he simply wasn’t in good shape,” Jesus said. “He was suffering from stomach pains and general fatigue. When I finally substituted him, he went straight to the dressing room and threw up.“ تبديلان إضافيان للنصر، وخروج كريستيانو رونالدو 🔄#النصر_الاتفاق | #دوري_روشن_السعودي pic.twitter.com/YfP5bPeLTg — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) April 15, 2026 Jesus assured reporters that Ronaldo was recovering well after the match, explaining that his absence from the post-game celebrations following the 1-0 victory was simply because he was still indisposed. Although his scoring run has ended, the veteran striker is expected to be back in the selection for the club’s next fixture. One step closer to the SPL title Wednesday’s hard-fought victory moves Al Nassr within touching distance of the Saudi Pro League title. The club currently sits atop the table with 76 points through 29 matches, fueled by a staggering 15-game winning streak in league play. Al Hilal remains in second place with 68 points and a game in hand, but they now face a daunting eight-point mountain to climb. Riding the momentum of 17 consecutive wins across all competitions, Jorge Jesus reflected on the culture shift he has implemented in his debut season. “Al Nassr are not used to competing for titles, but now the players feel they are close to winning the league. I have won 24 titles, so I consider myself among the best coaches in the world. We have a great feeling and sense that we’re close to the title, but our focus now is to take it one match at a time,” he stated.

The Portuguese star played despite severe stomach discomfort and ended up vomiting after the match, as confirmed by Jorge Jesus. Leer

April 16 - Cristiano Ronaldo played through illness and vomited after leaders Al-Nassr claimed a 15th straight Saudi Pro League victory with a 1-0 win over Al-Ettifaq, coach Jorge Jesus said.

Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus revealed Cristiano Ronaldo was suffering from illness during Al-Nassr’s clash with Al-Ettifaq. Kingsley Coman’s 31st-minute tap-in was enough to see Al-Nassr win 1-0 on Wednesday. Al-Nassr, who are eight points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League, have now won 15 straight games in the competition. Ronaldo’s shot led […] The post Ronaldo suffered from stomach pains during Al-Nassr´s win, reveals Jorge Jesus appeared first on Soccer News.

Al-Nassr moved eight points clear at the Saudi Pro League summit after Kingsley Coman’s first-half strike guided them to a 1-0 win over Al-Ettifaq, who ended with 10 men. Al-Hilal could slice that deficit to five points with their game in hand, though another convincing performance at Al-Awwal Park edged Jorge Jesus’ side closer to […] The post Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-Ettifaq: Coman sends leaders eight points clear appeared first on Soccer News.

Catch up with all the team news ahead of Al-Nassr vs Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net once again, leading Al Nassr to a set a new record winning streak that boost the hopes of claiming the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title. Cristiano Ronaldo continues to hit the ground running since returning from his hamstring injury, finding the net once again for Al Nassr as the club collected another three points in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League. In doing so, Al Nassr have broken a club record for consecutive wins, further fueling their title aspirations. On Saturday, Al Nassr traveled to Al Okhdood, a side currently sitting 17th and deep in the relegation zone. The scoring was opened in the 15th minute when Nawaf Boushal slipped the ball through to Cristiano Ronaldo, who burst into the box, broke the defensive line and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Joao Felix then put the game to bed with a second goal in the 47th minute to seal a comfortable 2-0 victory. That win over Al Okhdood gave Al Nassr their 14th consecutive Saudi Pro League victory, setting a new club record for the longest winning streak in the competition’s history. The previous mark of 13 straight wins had stood since the 2013-14 season, and with Ronaldo as the centerpiece, the bar has now been raised. The run began on January 17 with a 3-2 victory over Al Shabab, coming on the heels of a rough start to 2026 that had seen Al Nassr suffer three consecutive defeats. Since that turning point, the club has not dropped a single point in the SPL, scoring 39 goals and conceding just six across those 14 matches, showing marked improvement at both ends of the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr reacts. Ronaldo missed four of those wins, two in February due to his boycott of the league and two more in March while sidelined with his hamstring injury. Still, across the 10 games in which he featured during the streak, the Portuguese legend made his presence felt with nine goals and one assist, a reminder that the transition from 40 to 41 years old has done little to diminish his impact. A streak that carries good omens for Al Nassr The three points against Al Okhdood did more than just extend the winning run; they also widened the gap between Al Nassr and their closest rivals. Ronaldo’s side now sits atop the SPL with 73 points from 28 games, five clear of second-placed Al Hilal, and the historical parallel is hard to ignore. In the 2013-14 season, that previous record streak of 13 wins ran from Matchday 10, when Al Nassr beat Al Hilal 2-1, through to Matchday 22 and a 2-1 victory over Al Ettifaq. Crucially, the last time Al Nassr put together such a dominant winning run, they went on to lift the Saudi Pro League title, a fact that will not be lost on Ronaldo and his teammates as they chase their first league crown since the 2018-19 season. Al Nassr still far from the all-time SPL record Six games remain in the 2025-26 SPL campaign, and while Al Nassr will be looking to keep the streak alive, even a perfect run to the finish line would still leave them well short of the all-time record. That benchmark belongs to Al Hilal, who put together a staggering 24 consecutive league victories during the 2023-24 season, a campaign they ultimately crowned with the title under the management of current Al Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus.

Steven Gerrard has earmarked ‘the best player in the Bundesliga’ as his dream Liverpool replacement for Mohamed Salah. The legendary Reds captain joined talkSPORT Breakfast to discuss a…

Steven Gerrard has been tipped for a sensational Premier League return as Liverpool manager – but he must earn the right first. The Reds legend has been touted as a potential candidate to tak…

Welcome back to Stick to Football, brought to you by ARNE. We’re delighted to be joined by Liverpool legend and one of our most requested guests, Steven Gerrard, as he sits down with the panel to reflect on his incredible career in the game. The conversation begins with the current situation at Liverpool. With Arne Slot under pressure and Mo Salah announcing his exit, Gerrard shares his thoughts on the club and explains why he has found it difficult to watch at times this season. We then move into his journey in management, starting with his time at Rangers, where he led the club to a memorable title-winning season. He also reflects on his spells at Aston Villa and in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq. Looking back on his playing days, Gerrard opens up on the moments that defined his career at Liverpool, from the biggest highs to the toughest challenges, including the times he came close to leaving before choosing to stay. International football also comes into focus, as Gerrard gives his view on England’s golden generation, what went wrong, and why that team fell short of expectations. To finish, Gerrard and Carragher go head-to-head in a game, but who comes out on top? Gerrard, Lampard or Scholes, who are you taking? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe so you never miss an episode! 00:00 Intro 05:55 Current Liverpool 39:23 Liverpool Return Dreams 44:33 Saudi Coaching Experience 45:18 Saudi League Standards 54:19 Chelsea Temptation 01:07:58 Staying at Liverpool Decision 01:28:04 England Reflections This episode is sponsored by Huel. Gary Neville and the Stick to Football team know - when your day’s full-on, you need fuel that’s fast and actually good for you. Huel is the ultimate meal on the go - high protein, packed with 26 essential vitamins & minerals, and ready in seconds. 🏆 Exclusive for The Overlap listeners: Get your first Huel with a special discount AND a free gift. That goes for all of their range, including Huel Lite! 👉 Claim Your Offer Now – and see why millions have made the switch. Go to https://huel.com/theoverlap This episode is sponsored by Heineken. Enjoy Heineken responsibly. Heineken contains 5% ABV. Heineken 0.0 contains no more than 0.05% ABV. For the facts about alcohol, visit https://wwww.bedrinkaware.co.uk This episode is sponsored by Sky Bet’s Super 6. Visit super6.skysports.com for your chance to win. Terms and conditions apply: https://super6.skysports.com/terms Stick to Football is brought to you by our partners ARNE clothing https://arneclo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOW ON REDMEN PLUS! https://theredmentv.com/liverpool-academy-culture-football-analysis-the-coaches-corner/ Dan and Matty are joined by former Liverpool academy coach and Al-Ettifaq analyst Ray Shearwood to talk about his career to date, the Reds' academy system and life in Saudi Arabia with Steven Gerrard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Musa and Ryan discuss Manchester United, as Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s involvement began this week (06:29). They chat about the optics of attending the home game against Spurs and meeting with various groups the day after and then look ahead to what the timeline for success will be and what that success will look like. They then wrap up with a brief chat about Jordan Henderson’s move to Ajax following the termination of his contract with Al-Ettifaq (34:28). Hosts: Ryan Hunn and Musa Okwonga Producer: Ryan Hunn Additional Production: Jonathan Fisher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices For more podcasts, ad-free and in full, plus access to the Stadio Social Club and much more, you can become a Stadio member by signing up at patreon.com/stadio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ste joins us with the final Redmen Bitesize Podcast for this week as he gives us all the LFC updates from the last 24 hours, including Luke Chambers loan move to Wigan and Steven Gerrard wanting Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to join Al Ettifaq. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ste was joined by Neil Jones for this weeks Journo Insight show with the main news focusing on reports that Jordan Henderson wants to leave Al-Ettifaq to return to the Premier League after only 6 months since his switch to the Saudi Pro League. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Henderson sat down with The Athletic's David Ornstein and Adam Crafton this week in an attempt to set some of the records straight about his controversial summer move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq. On the podcast today, David and Adam joined Ayo Akinwolere to discuss the main talking points from the interview; from his denial that the move was financially motivated to the backlash he's received from LGBTQ+ groups. He also discusses his departure from Liverpool. Also joining the pod is Joe White, co-chair of LGBT supporters group 3 Lions Pride. Produced by Adonis Pratsides Additional Production by: Adam Jones & Mike Stavrou Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead *** • Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/theathletic to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris is here with Redmen Bitesize for today as he brings the news of Jordan Henderson's first interview since his controversial move to Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, as well as continuing rumours concerning the future of Mo Salah, with Al-Ittihad looking to make a £215M bid for the Egyptian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ste is here with the latest episode of Redmen Weekly, the show that brings you the best clips from our Redmen Plus shows. This week the focus is on Jordan Henderson's move to Al-Ettifaq and the Reds stepping up their interest in Romeo Lavia. First up, is a clip from the biased transfer podcast, Paul was joined by Ste & Dan as they discussed the potential Kylian Mbappe transfer to Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal. Next is a clip from Redmen Reacts, Chris was joined by Dan as they discussed the impact on leadership within the squad following the departure of Jordan Henderson. The next two clips come from our Expert Insight show, Dan was joined by The Athletic Journalist Jacob Tanswell and former manager of Romeo Lavia at U15 level for Anderlecht and Belgium, Arno Van Den Abbeel. Next up Dan was joined by Josh Williams for a deep dive on Romeo Lavia and they discuss if Lavia is an ideal signing for Liverpool's midfield. Finally, Ste was joined in studio by Neil Jones to get the timeline of events on Liverpool's interest in Romeo Lavia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will O'Callaghan was joined by football journalist Martin Lipton to discuss Jordan Henderson's decision to leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia. Joining up with his former teammate - and now manager - Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq, Will and Martin considered what this lucrative and extremely controversial move will do to Henderson's reputation at home. Furthermore, the lads considered what is likely to happen with Harry Kane this summer and whether or not he has any future at Tottenham Hotspur.

Paul is here with your Transfer News Update show for Thursday the 27th of July as Liverpool have submitted a second bid for Southampton's Romeo Lavia and Jordan Henderson has officially said goodbye to LFc completing a move to Al-Ettifaq! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Check out all the other findings of the 2023 Sky Bet Fan Hope Survey here: https://m.skybet.com/football/fancentral?DCMP=SOC_Fans_LFC_1 Paul, Ste Hoare, Ste Plunkett and Dan Clubbe discuss whether or not Liverpool Captain Jordan Henderson has damaged his LFC legacy amid links to Al-Ettifaq. The skipper's previous stance on issues relating to LGBTQ+ has left many questioning his decision to move to Saudi Arabia. To watch the full show head to youtube.com/theredmentv now! Buy Redmen T-Shirts: http://www.redmenmerch.com SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LFC STREAMING SERVICE: http://www.redmenplus.com - Buy Our Merch: https://www.redmenmerch.com/ - Award winning Independent Liverpool FC fan channel. - Click the link to get in touch 👉 https://bit.ly/2K8qHDS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul is here with your news update show! Today the top stories continue to revolve around Jordan Henderson's move to Al-Ettifaq as Liverpool captain has reportedly completed his medical for the Saudi side. Jurgen Klopp has also been speaking during pre-season and has told the fans that more signings are on the way for The Reds! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is here with the news that Jordan Henderson is due to have a medical with Al-Ettifaq in the next 48 hours and that Liverpool are interested in Fulham's Defensive Midfielder Joao Palhinha and PSG's Marco Veratti. Other news includes Klopp dismissing reports he will be leaving to manage Germany and that Man City want Nicolo Barella. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

- Paul and Chris give their thoughts on the news that Jordan Henderson will be leaving Liverpool to join Al-Ettifaq for a reported £12m fee and on a £350k per week contract - Watch the full 35-minute show going in depth and detail on this potential transfer, the repercussions for Jordan and the LGBTQ+ aspect of this transfer! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul is back with the latest episode of redmen bitesize with the news that Jordan Henderson has travelled to Germany with the rest of the squad as Liverpool & Al-Ettifaq remain in a stalemate over agreeing a transfer fee. Meanwhile, Fabinho has not travelled to Germany with his Liverpool teammates as he looks set to join Saudi Arabian Pro League team Al-Ittihad in a deal worth around £40m. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ste is back with another episode of Redmen Weekly where this week the guys on the Biased Transfer Show talk Steven Gerrard to Al Ettifaq, Dan talks to Chelsea writer Bobby Vincent about Liverpool target Levi Colwill on Transfer Insight, Neil Jones reacts in real-time to news that Saudi side Al Ittihad are preparing a £40M bid for Fabinho and finally DaveOCKop speaks on the latest news surrounding Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia in another episode of Transfer Insight! To watch, or listen to, these shows in full head to redmenplus.com today and sign up! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcus and Luke return with fresh, breakfast-based developments around Harry Kane to Bayern Munich! Petty squabbling between Speller and Moore incoming, so be ready to pick your side... We also don’t hold back on our thoughts over Jordan Henderson’s rumoured agreement to join Al-Ettifaq and we reflect on Dele’s hugely affecting interview with Gary Neville. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive live events, ad-free Rambles, full video episodes and loads more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is back with Redmen Bitesize today as reports emerge that Jordan Henderson has accepted the proposal from Al-Ettifaq, meaning that if a fee between the Saudi club and Liverpool can be agreed, the captain will be leaving The Reds in strange circumstances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Fabrizio Romano reporting that Jordan Henderson has accepted an offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq Paul, Chris and Dan took to the studio to react to the news in real-time! In this clip they discuss what this potential move could mean in a football sense! To watch or listen to the full show head to redmenplus.com now! Buy Redmen T-Shirts: http://www.redmenmerch.com SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LFC STREAMING SERVICE: http://www.redmenplus.com - Buy Our Merch: https://www.redmenmerch.com/ - Award winning Independent Liverpool FC fan channel. - Click the link to get in touch 👉 https://bit.ly/2K8qHDS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul is here with the latest episode of Redmen Bitesize with the huge news that Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are both attracting interest from Saudi Arabia. Jordan Henderson is reportedly considering his future at the club following interest from Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq. Whilst Al-Ittihad set to make concrete bid to sign Fabinho from Liverpool for £40m. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris is here with the latest episode of Redmen Bitesize with the news that according to reports Liverpool are increasing likely to make a bid for Southampton Romeo Lavia. Other news includes Steven Gerrard's move to Al-Ettifaq, potential summer departures for Jordan Henderson and Thiago & the latest of Khephren Thuram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.