Ronaldo Saudi moved to signal the likely end of the elite club’s career
Less than two weeks after arch-rival Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and likely marked the end of his career in elite football.
By agreeing a contract until 2025, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has ended speculation over his future after Manchester United terminated his contract last month.
“I am fortunate to have won everything I set out to win in European football and I feel now is the right time to share my experience in Asia,” Ronaldo said.
Al Nassr described the deal as “history in the making” but is likely to raise questions about Ronaldo’s ambition at this stage of his career.
While Messi finally won the only major trophy that had eluded the two men widely regarded as the best players of their generation, after leading Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo will play outside top-flight European football for the first time time in his career.
Media have claimed the 37-year-old Portugal international could earn up to $200 million a year in the move, but will miss out on the chance to extend his record as La Liga’s all-time top goalscorer of Champions with his record. he is currently at 140 goals.
Messi has 129 goals in the competition.
Nor is Ronaldo likely to add to his collection of Ballon d’Or – the trophy awarded to the world’s best player.
Meanwhile, Messi will be one of the favorites to win this trophy for the eighth time next year after his World Cup triumph.
He also has the chance to win the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, having won European club football’s biggest prize four times with Barcelona.
Ronaldo won the Champions League five times during spells with United and Real Madrid.
Six months ago, Ronaldo wanted to join a team playing in the Champions League after United failed to qualify for this season’s competition.
However, a move never materialised, with the most serious interest in him coming from an unnamed Saudi club.
It is not known what other serious offers were made after he became a free agent last month, but the move to Al Nassr represents a significant step up from the level at which he has operated throughout his career.
Still, it’s a major coup for football in the Middle East and will add to the debate over Saudi Arabia’s attempts to use so-called “sportswashing” to improve its reputation at the level international after its sovereign wealth fund led the purchase of Premier League club Newcastle United last year. course
“This is more than history in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success, but will inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves,” Al Nassr posted on social media.
Ronaldo remains one of football’s biggest global icons, but the move comes at a time when he faces questions about his ability to produce his best form at the highest level.
He managed just three goals for United in 16 games this season, with one of those coming from the penalty spot.
He became the first men’s player to score in five World Cups with his penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 win over Ghana in Qatar, but finished the tournament having been kicked out of his country’s last two matches before going out to Morocco in the quarter-finals.
By comparison, Messi inspired Argentina’s third World Cup triumph, scoring seven goals, including two in a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over France in the final after a 3-3 extra-time draw .
Ronaldo and Messi have compared their achievements throughout their careers.
Messi’s victory in the World Cup saw him emulate football greats Pelé and Diego Maradona in lifting the most important prize in sport.
For many, it will also have given him the edge in his personal rivalry with Ronaldo. And at 35, he still has time to further embellish his career in top-flight football.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo has grabbed the headlines in recent months for his off-field antics.
He was dropped and forced to train outside United’s first team when he refused to come on as a substitute in a match against Tottenham in October.
He then held an explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and United’s owners, the Glazer family.
It led to the termination of his contract, his eventual move to Al Nassr and the next chapter of his career away from the glare of top European football.
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