Most professional sportspeople are long retired by the age of 40, but Cristiano Ronaldo is weighing up his next challenge as a whirlwind spell with Al Nassr comes to an end.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar has scored 99 goals in 111 games across all competitions for the Saudi Pro League club and earned €200 million ($225.8 million) each year.
But he has frustratingly fallen short of winning anything more than 2023’s regional Arab Club Champions Cup—Ronaldo hasn’t lifted a league title, domestic cup or major continental trophy since Juventus triumphed in the Coppa Italia in 2020–21.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Ronaldo isn’t expected to retire.
The player himself said that while his “chapter is over”, his wider story is “still being written”. Al Nassr maintain that they haven’t given up hope of agreeing a new contract.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has teased “discussion with some clubs” that could see Ronaldo appear at the upcoming Club World Cup.
Whether that could take the form of a short-term deal for the tournament or a slightly more permanent contract remains to be seen, but it would certainly be a in FIFA’s interest to have one of football’s biggest names at the inaugural competition in its fastest growing market.
If Ronaldo is looking for more than just a short-term contract, there are few clubs that could afford to pay him anything close to what Al Nassr have been. Some might view a short deal as an unmissable marketing opportunity, both in terms of furthering their reach and increasing their chances of prevailing at the Club World Cup with watching eyes from all around the world.
Joining a new team before the Club World Cup is possible due to FIFA opening a mini-transfer window at the start of June, to allow squad changes.
