Cristiano Ronaldo misses Al-Nassr match in Uzbekistan amid security concerns

Cristiano Ronaldo stayed behind while Al-Nassr travelled to Uzbekistan for their AFC Champions League fixture against Pakhtakor on Monday.

The Portugal forward, who will turn 42 in February, was one of several players coach Ange Postecoglou left out of the trip to Tashkent amid ongoing security concerns. Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan were also rested by Postecoglou.

The coach told a news conference he had made the decision “given the pressure of matches and the amount of travel involved”.

Al-Nassr went on to win Monday’s match 6-2, with former Chelsea star Joao Felix scoring twice.

Al-Nassr's match at home to Al Wasl was postponed a week ago, with the UAE club refusing to travel due to the situation in Saudi Arabia.

Ange Postecoglou left Ronaldo behind in Saudi Arabia (Getty)

Airports in the country have come under a series of attacks undertaken by Houthi rebels.

Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League last Thursday, with the goals taking him to nine in 12 appearances this season.

They also moved him on to 985 career strikes in his bid to reach 1,000 before hanging up his boots.

Ronaldo’s omission from Monday’s game came after he was on the receiving end of more criticism from his former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag over the weekend.

Ten Hag claimed Ronaldo hasn’t been able to “deliver” for seven or eight years after previously accusing the Portuguese superstar of lacking professionalism during their time together at Old Trafford.

"Every top team must embrace the top player, but the top player must also make way for the team. That was simply the problem with Ronaldo," Ten Hag said on ESPN.

“The players wanted to work for him and they looked up to him because let there be no misunderstanding about that. He is of course a tremendous player, one of the all-time greats.

“But that is also the reality over the last seven, eight years, he simply can no longer deliver. From Juventus onwards it’s simply over.

“That is actually the great gift of Real Madrid. They always know when to say goodbye to players at the right moment. They recognise when a player’s level is declining. And they say goodbye at a moment when to the outside world, they still appear to be at their peak, but they can no longer actually deliver.”