Cristiano Ronaldo has ended his boycott of Al Nassr games, sources told ESPN Brasil. The 41-year-old Portuguese star sat out two matches - a 2-0 win over Al Ittihad and a victory against Al Riyadh - due to his unhappiness with the PIF's influence over club decisions. Ronaldo's absence stemmed from his frustration that rivals Al Hilal, also 75% PIF-owned, signed Karim Benzema during the January transfer window.

According to sources, Ronaldo agreed to return after the governing body paid Al Nassr's overdue salaries and restored management autonomy to club executives Simão Coutinho and José Semedo, who had been suspended by the PIF. The Saudi Pro League had warned that no player could influence decisions beyond their own team, emphasizing that clubs operate independently under the same rules. Ronaldo is set to play against Al Fateh on Feb. 14 after missing matches due to his demands for greater club independence.

Ronaldo has played 22 games this season for Al Nassr, scoring 18 goals with three assists. The club currently sits second in the Saudi Pro League, just one point behind arch-rival Al Hilal. His return comes at a crucial time as Al Nassr also face Arkadag in the Asian Champions League Two this Wednesday. The dispute highlighted tensions between player power and league governance in the rapidly evolving Saudi football landscape.