Why can’t Neymar play against Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday? Explains Saudi Pro League rule keeping Al Hilal star out of Al Nassr game

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be back in action on Friday as Al Nassr face a huge Saudi Pro League game against champions Al Hilal.

The Portuguese star slotted a late penalty as his side were eliminated from the King’s Cup this week, extending their wait for a trophy, and they already sit six points behind Al Hilal at the top of the league through eight games this season. The leaders have won all eight of their games and scored 23 times in that run.

It means that Friday’s game could potentially be important to Al Nassr’s hopes of challenging Al Hilal’s supremacy in Saudi Arabia this season – and it promises to be an engrossing encounter.

This is also a match that fans have been looking forward to for a long time due to the prospect of seeing Ronaldo take the field against Brazilian star Neymar, who is finally back after a year’s absence due to a serious knee injury. Unfortunately, the ex-Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker will not be available.

MORE: Has Neymar ever won the Ballon d’Or? | Where Ronaldo came in 2024 vote

Why can’t Neymar play against Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday?

Neymar is ineligible to play in Al Hilal’s match against Al Nassr on November 1 due to Saudi Pro League registration rules.

Competition legislation state that all Pro League teams cannot have more than 10 non-Saudi players registered in their 25-man squads for the league season. Neymar was not on Al Hilal’s list of registered foreign players due to his injury absence, with Brazilian full-back Renan Lodi taking his place in the squad after signing from Marseille in January 2024.

In other words, Neymar will not be able to play a Saudi league match until at least January, when the league’s next registration window opens and Al Hilal will be able to add him to their official squad list.

However, the 32-year-old is not barred from playing entirely: he is eligible for the AFC Champions League as the rules for that competition are different to the league’s rules. That means his next game could be on November 4, when Al Hilal face Esteghlal in the continental competition.

When did Al Hilal sign Neymar?

Neymar joined Al Hilal from PSG in a €90 million ($98.3 million/£77.6 million) deal in August 2023.

However, he managed just five appearances in all competitions for the club before suffering a serious knee injury in Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay last October.

Neymar’s contract, salary at Al Hilal

According to reports from CBS SportNeymar’s two-year contract with Al Hilal has an annual salary of $219 million.