Cristiano Ronaldo’s future has once again been cast into doubt after Al-Nassr dropped to fourth place in the Saudi Pro League standings, just four weeks before the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Portuguese star, who joined the Saudi club in 2022 following a tense departure from then-Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, has had a massive impact — scoring 91 goals and providing 19 assists in 103 appearances, including 33 goals this season.
However, his team’s poor recent form has cast a shadow over Ronaldo’s future, especially with just two months remaining on his contract.
According to MARCA, Ronaldo had hoped to extend his deal for another two years, which would have allowed him to play until the age of 42. But negotiations have stalled due to the team’s disappointing results — including their elimination from the AFC Champions League semifinals following a 3-2 defeat to Japan’s Kawasaki on April 30.
This comes after Ronaldo himself stated in a 2024 interview with Portuguese TV station Now (quoted by TNT Sports) that he would “probably” end his career at Al-Nassr:
“I don’t know if I’ll retire soon, maybe in two or three years, but I’ll probably retire here at Al-Nassr. I’m happy at this club and I feel good in this country. I want to keep playing here.”
While the media continues to speculate about his next move, Ronaldo remains the favorite to win the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot, with 23 league goals — three ahead of Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney, who recently led his team to their first-ever AFC Champions League title.
As for his international career, Ronaldo has said the decision to retire from the national team will be spontaneous, yet carefully considered:
“When I leave the national team, I won’t tell anyone in advance. It will be a spontaneous decision, but also a well-thought-out one.”
