Is CR7 coming to India?

 

The dream of millions of Indian football fans to see global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo play live on Indian soil has been postponed indefinitely.

In a major announcement that sent waves of disappointment across the country, Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr confirmed that their captain, Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7), will not be part of the travelling squad for the highly-anticipated AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) group stage match against India's FC Goa on October 22 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.

The Build-Up: A Match That Sparked Unprecedented Hype

The possibility of Ronaldo's first-ever visit to India began the moment FC Goa and Al-Nassr were drawn into the same group in the continental competition. The fixture instantly became the biggest club football match in the history of the Indian Super League (ISL) club, triggering a massive scramble for tickets and unprecedented media attention.

FC Goa officials and local authorities, including the Goa Police, had begun preparing elaborate security and logistical arrangements, with the state’s Chief Minister even expressing pride at the prospect of hosting one of the sport's greatest icons. The fact that Ronaldo’s name was reportedly included in the initial visa application list further fuelled the speculation and fan frenzy

Why is CR7 Skipping the Trip?

Reports from Saudi media and sources close to the club indicate that the 40-year-old Portuguese icon has opted out of the long-distance trip for strategic and contractual reasons:

1. Workload Management: At 40, and with his eyes set on an historic sixth FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026, Ronaldo and the Al-Nassr management are focused on carefully managing his game time and fitness. The long travel to India, followed by a quick return for a crucial domestic King's Cup fixture, was deemed an unnecessary risk.

3. Contractual Clause: It is widely reported that Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr includes a clause that grants him the right to choose which away fixtures outside of Saudi Arabia he participates in.

4. Team's Performance: Al-Nassr have comfortably won their first two ACL2 group games without Ronaldo, placing them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout rounds. This reduces the urgency for the team's talisman to travel for the group stage fixture.

   A Historic Match, Despite the Absence

   While Ronaldo's no-show is a significant letdown, the match remains a historic occasion for Indian football. FC Goa will still face a formidable Al-Nassr side boasting other international stars such as Sadio Mané, João Félix, and Iñigo Martínez.FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur acknowledged the disappointment but stressed the magnitude of the occasion. "Of course, we would have loved to host a player of Ronaldo's calibre," he said, "but hosting one of Asia's most high-profile clubs in a continental competition remains a huge moment for us and for Indian football."Ronaldo’s absence is particularly poignant for Indian fans as it comes in a year when his perennial rival, Lionel Messi, is scheduled to visit India with the World Cup-winning Argentine team for an international friendly. The missed opportunity to host both global titans in the same year is a bitter pill for many.

   For the football faithful in Goa, who are now left with high-priced tickets but no CR7, the collective sentiment is one of frustration. However, the focus now shifts to the other stars and, most importantly, on FC Goa's monumental task of challenging a superior