1,000 career goals?
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to make headlines due to his global prominence, and recent speculation about his future has been rampant. The Portugal international’s contract with Al-Nassr was due to expire this summer, and a cryptic social media post hinted at a potential departure. After Al-Nassr’s last match in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo shared on Instagram: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.” Many interpreted this as a farewell, suggesting he had offers from other clubs for the Club World Cup.
However, Ronaldo has decided to stay with Al-Nassr in a lucrative new deal, ensuring his position as the highest-paid player in the world. On Thursday, the Saudi club announced that Ronaldo has agreed to a two-year extension, which will bring him approximately €185 million annually. Reports from Marca earlier this year indicated that his contract amounts to €15 million per month, €3.8 million per week, and €550,000 per day. Additionally, Ronaldo will be offered a minority ownership stake in Al-Nassr, underlining his significance within the organization. He is also expected to have a say in player acquisitions.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Future at Al-Nassr
In a December interview at the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo suggested that he might consider owning a club in the future. “I’m not a coach,” he stated. “I’ll never be a coach, or president of the club. Maybe the owner of the club. If I own a club, I’ll make things clear and fix what I see as problematic.” Ronaldo’s influence has significantly elevated the profile of the Saudi Pro League, and he has already played a key role in major decisions at Al-Nassr, though he has yet to clinch a major trophy with the team.
While the prospect of gaining an ownership stake at Al-Nassr reveals Ronaldo’s future ambitions in football, the 39-year-old isn’t ready to retire just yet. His goal is to reach 1,000 professional goals, though he has recently acknowledged that this target may be out of reach. During an interview in November, Ronaldo remarked: “One thousand goals is fantastic, but if it doesn’t happen, I’m already the player in history with the most goals.” He has maintained an impressive scoring rate at Al-Nassr with 93 goals in 105 appearances, but achieving the 1,000-goal milestone would realistically require him to play several more seasons—a tall order considering he’ll turn 40 in February.