Cristiano Ronaldo has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia since 2023 – and is being paid handsomely for it. But now the tireless Portuguese star has hinted at his departure. And that’s not all.
In a week’s time, Cristiano Ronaldo will once again be presenting himself in Germany. As part of the Nations League, the 40-year-old goal-scoring machine will face Julian Nagelsmann’s DFB team with Portugal at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Wednesday.
Formally, CR7 will then probably still be a professional player for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. In 2023, after his illustrious European career (Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United twice, Real Madrid, and Juventus), the striker moved to the desert with much fanfare and a salary of around 200 million euros per season (!).
“The story? It continues.”
This Monday, after more than 100 games and almost 100 goals for Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo announced his departure from Saudi Arabia. On X and Instagram, he wrote after the end of this disappointing season without a title or Champions League qualification, which had long fueled transfer rumors: “This chapter is over. The story? Will continue to be written.”
Of course, this leaves plenty of room for interpretation – apart from the fact that it really looks like he is leaving Al-Nassr. Especially since he accompanied the post with a photo of himself in the club’s jersey – with the closing words: ”Grateful for everything.”
Exactly what happens next remains to be seen – after the Nations League in a week’s time. In addition to the match against Germany in Munich, CR7 also has the third-place play-off at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart (Sunday, June 8, 3 p.m.) or the final, again in Munich, to look forward to.
It also seems quite possible that the tireless Portuguese European champion of 2016 will compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, which has been expanded to a lavish format, immediately after the UEFA Nations League. FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently announced: “Cristiano Ronaldo could play in the Club World Cup. There are talks with some clubs. So if any club is watching and is interested in signing Ronaldo for the Club World Cup – who knows, who knows.”
The Club World Cup will take place in the United States, where CR7 is certainly aiming to play in the World Cup (June 11 to July 19, 2026), between June 14 and July 13 this year. Which club the striker will play for then? That’s still up in the air. Initial rumors are already circulating about Palmeiras (Brazil) as a possible participant.