Al Nassr team plans includes Ronaldo Jr and Cristiano Ronaldo

April 22, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

According to Goal’s report by Muhammad Zaki, which cites Saudi outlet Al Weeam, Al Nassr are considering a first-team promotion for Cristiano Ronaldo Jr ahead of next season. The idea is still under review rather than finalized, but it has already attracted attention because it could create a rare father-and-son partnership at senior club level.

Why the idea is gaining traction

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has followed a familiar development path, spending time in youth systems linked to Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United before continuing his progress in Saudi Arabia. That background alone does not guarantee a senior opportunity, but it helps explain why his development is being watched more closely than that of most players his age.

According to the Portuguese Football Federation, Cristiano dos Santos is already part of Portugal’s Under-16 setup, which shows that his progress is being tracked beyond club football as well. That does not answer whether he is ready for senior minutes at Al Nassr, but it does make clear that he is not being discussed only because of his surname.

A major step, not a symbolic one

A move into the first-team environment would still be a serious jump. Youth football and senior football are separated not only by pace and physicality, but also by decision-making, positioning and consistency under pressure. If Al Nassr go ahead, the club would be taking a sporting risk as much as a commercial one, because any promotion would immediately become one of the most scrutinized stories in football.

There is also a practical reason the story has gained momentum now. According to Goal’s Saudi Pro League table, Al Nassr are eight points clear at the top. In that context, the club has both a title race to manage and a longer-term decision to make about how quickly to expose a teenager to the senior group.

What it could mean for Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is now 41, and the possibility of sharing the pitch with his son has become a realistic late-career storyline rather than a distant idea. His contract situation matters as well. According to The Guardian’s report on his Al Nassr extension, Ronaldo signed a deal in June 2025 that runs until June 2027, leaving open the possibility of a 2026-27 season in which both players could be part of the same senior squad.

That timeline is why the report has landed with such force. The club would not simply be promoting a promising academy player. It would be doing so while its biggest star remains central to the team, and while the Saudi Pro League continues to pursue global attention through major storylines.

Why the decision would resonate far beyond Riyadh

If the promotion happens, the football value and the publicity value would arrive together. For Al Nassr, it would be a football decision with global reach. For Ronaldo, it would add a personal chapter to a career already defined by records, longevity and visibility. For the player himself, the important question is simpler: whether the coaching staff believe he is ready for the demands of senior football now, not later.

Sources: Goal, Al Weeam, Portuguese Football Federation, The Guardian