Ronaldo’s Saudi Journey and Contract Situation
Questions continue to surround how long Cristiano Ronaldo will remain with Al-Nassr, after joining in 2023 following the termination of his contract at Manchester United ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
He signed one of the most lucrative contracts in world sport when moving to Riyadh, alongside other high-profile names such as Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané who also joined the Saudi Pro League project. Despite his age, Ronaldo has maintained elite standards, winning two more Golden Boots while continuing to deliver goals.
However, he briefly took strike action in February over concerns regarding how funds are distributed among PIF-controlled clubs, before returning to action as Al-Nassr chase the Saudi Pro League title. His current deal runs until 2027, with retirement still an open question at age 41.
Future Beyond Saudi Arabia Still Uncertain
There has been ongoing speculation that Ronaldo could take on one final challenge in Europe, with a romantic return to Sporting CP occasionally mentioned. However, former Premier League player M’Poku believes a return to Europe is unlikely given his situation in Saudi Arabia.
He noted that Ronaldo is well-settled, financially secure, and highly respected in the Middle East, adding that there is little incentive to leave. M’Poku also suggested Ronaldo is likely to feature in another World Cup before eventually finishing his career in Saudi Arabia.
Salah and Saudi Pro League Links
Attention has also turned to potential future stars heading to Saudi Arabia, with Mohamed Salah reportedly a strong candidate as he approaches free agency at Liverpool.
While his destination remains uncertain, M’Poku believes a move to Saudi is very possible, though not necessarily to Al-Nassr, especially amid ongoing changes involving club ownership structures under the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Messi-Ronaldo Dream Reunion Considered Unlikely
Talk of Cristiano Ronaldo potentially linking up with long-time rival Lionel Messi at Inter Miami CF has also surfaced, especially given Messi’s contract running until 2028.
However, the idea of uniting both global icons under one team has been dismissed as unrealistic, with concerns that such a pairing would create commercial and sporting imbalance, as both remain dominant global superstars with massive individual fanbases.
Legacy Still Unfolding
Despite speculation over retirement and final career moves, both Ronaldo and Messi are still expected to feature at major international tournaments, including the upcoming World Cup, while also chasing the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals. For now, Ronaldo’s story remains far from finished, with his next chapter still dependent on both sporting ambition and personal timing.
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