Al-Nassr’s iconic striker keeps fans guessing on future | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable career continues to draw attention, both for his longevity and an extraordinary haul of trophies. Now 40, Ronaldo remains a decisive figure for Al-Nassr, demonstrating the same goalscoring instincts that have made him one of football’s most enduring icons. Last season, he scored 35 goals across all competitions for the Saudi club, confirming his status as a consistent threat in front of goal, even as speculation swirled about his future.

Key to his legacy is a trophy cabinet that counts 35 collective honours at club and international level. His most recent titles include the UEFA Nations League with Portugal and the Arab Club Champions Cup with Al-Nassr. These successes ended a brief period without silverware between 2021 and 2023. Across his career, Ronaldo has secured 12 international club trophies, notably winning the Champions League five times, the FIFA Club World Cup four times, and lifting the UEFA Super Cup twice.

For Portugal, he has been pivotal, contributing to their Nations League triumphs and, most famously, the Euro 2016 win in France. Domestically, he has collected major honours at every stop, except for Al-Nassr. His early career saw a Portuguese Super Cup title with Sporting, followed by a trophy-laden spell at Manchester United, where he won the Premier League three times, two League Cups, the FA Cup, and a pair of Community Shields. Real Madrid yielded six Spanish trophies—including two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey wins. His time in Italy brought two Serie A crowns, two Supercoppa Italiana victories, and the Coppa Italia with Juventus.

Despite regular transfer speculation—recently involving River Plate and Fluminense attempting to secure Ronaldo for the Club World Cup—he has chosen to remain with Al-Nassr. Both South American clubs were informed, via Ronaldo’s representatives, that he has no intention of leaving Saudi football at this time.

Questions linger around Ronaldo’s next steps. His contract with Al-Nassr nears its conclusion, and while the club is eager to extend his stay, no definitive decision has been revealed. Rumours about a move to MLS or a return to Sporting have circulated, yet nothing has materialized.

Speaking on his future, Ronaldo has maintained, “My mentality is to live day by day. There is no decided day for my retirement. I feel happy, I’m here to enjoy it and I’ll continue as long as I love it.” He remains focused on performing for club and country, with his output for Al-Nassr and Portugal as reliable as ever.

As he edges towards potentially 1,000 career goals (he stands 62 short), Ronaldo’s next destination may still be unknown, but his drive and impact are constant. For now, fans can expect to see him in yellow and blue—still decisive, still making history.

Source: 90min

Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images