Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return to action on Friday as Al Nassr faces Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal in a Pro League match.
The Portuguese star scored a late penalty as his side were kicked out of the Copa del Rey this week, extending their wait for a trophy and they are already six points behind Al Hilal at the top of the Championship table after eight matches this season. The leaders have won all eight games and scored 23 times during this streak.
It means Friday's game could be crucial to Al Nassr's hopes of challenging Al Hilal's supremacy in Saudi Arabia this season - and promises to be an exciting encounter.
It is also a match that fans have been waiting for a long time due to the prospect of Ronaldo taking the field against Brazilian star Neymar, who is finally back after a year's absence due to a serious injury. Unfortunately, the former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker will not be available.
Why can't Neymar play against Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday?
Due to Saudi Pro League registration rules, Neymar is ineligible to play in Al Hilal's match against Al Nassr on November 1.
The competition law states that all Pro League teams cannot have more than 10 non-Saudi players registered in their squads of 25 for the league season. Neymar was not on Al Hilal's list of registered foreign players due to his injury absence. Brazilian defender Renan Lodi took his place in the team after signing from Marseille in January 2024.
In other words, Neymar will not be able to play a Saudi league match at least until January, when the next league's registration window opens and Al Hilal can add him to their official team list.
However, the 32-year-old is not prevented from playing at all: he is eligible to play in the AFC Champions League because the rules of that competition are different from those of the Championship. This means that their next game could be on November 4, when Al Hilal faces Esteghlal in the continental competition.
When did Al Hilal recruit Neymar?
Neymar joined Al Hilal from PSG in a €90m ($98.3m/£77.6m) deal in August 2023.
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