The inexhaustible Portuguese striker is going through an unusual phase in his career as he plays outside of Europe for the first time. Arab football can also present the “Bug” with interesting challenges.
Cristiano Ronaldo It’s Birthday This Sunday, February 5th, the extraordinary forward of the Portuguese team, once goalscorer for powerful clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus, celebrates his 38 years of life, of which he has dedicated more than half to football has. In his more than two decades of professional career, “CR7” has forged his own legend in this beautiful sport and remains active despite being far from elite competition.
Earlier this year 2023, ‘CR7’ signed a historic deal with the Al-Nasr, From Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese is the highest-paid player in the world with a salary of €200m per season by mid-2025. This strong investment by the Saudi club is not only aimed at winning trophies but also helping to boost their domestic league , so capitalize on the prestige that comes with the Name Ronaldo is connected.
For the ‘Bug’, his sojourn in exotic Middle Eastern football represents a new opportunity to continue making history, albeit outside the Old Continent he never left. “I broke all the records in Europe and I want to beat them here too,” he explained in his presentation a few weeks ago.
Cristiano Ronaldo became captain of his new team. Photo: Al-Nassr
However, his detractors claim that the footballer, who was rejected by several European teams before deciding to sign for his current squad, is making his final moves internationally at a level far below what he aspired to in the United States used to for years.
Disregarding his brace in the friendly against PSG for the Riyadh Season Cup friendly tournament, a single goal in the Saudi league in three official matches (of which he won one, drew another and lost the rest) doesn’t seem to help refute the criticism the performance of the ‘Commander’.
What many overlook is that the interval between his Al-Nassr debut and his first official win is the second-shortest in the Portuguese’s career: he recently converted all three ties at Sporting Lisbon; at United at nine; and at Juventus at four. Only in Madrid did he make his debut as a goalscorer on his first appearance.
This was Cristiano Ronaldo’s first official goal in Al-Nassr
In their last game, Cristiano was able to sign a brace but the VAR annulled his first goal, which he scored after a superb ball throw with his chest – an example of the quality he still retains despite his age. Although it seems that the adjustment continues to cost him, the reunion of “Cris” with the networks will be fundamental given the final leg of the local tournament in which Al-Nassr leads and emerges as one of the candidates to win.
Could the Arab League be a springboard for Cristiano Ronaldo’s triumphant return to the elite? Much will depend on the goalscorer himself, but his coach Rudi García believes his star’s ultimate destination is not in Arabia.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a positive addition as he helps scatter defenders. He’s one of the best players in the world. He will not end his career at Al-Nassr, he will return to Europe,” said the Spaniard. For now, the attacker’s mission is to show that at 38 he can still contribute a lot to world football.
Cristiano has two goals in friendlies and one official at the Saudi club. Photo: Al-Nassr
What titles can Cristiano Ronaldo win?
The Saudi Professional League and the King’s Cup of Champions, both domestic competitions in Saudi Arabia, are the two tournaments in question Cristiano Ronaldo He could win this in 2023 with Al-Nassr. For his next season, he could opt for the Saudi Arabian Super Cup, from which he retired at the end of January, and the Asian Champions League, a tournament that could be his ticket to the Club World Cup.
How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his entire career?
With his most recent penalty in the 2-2 draw between Al-Nassr and Al-Fateh, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 820 official goals in 1,148 games in his career.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Winner
These are all the trophies that “CR7” has added to his personal record, both at club level and with the Portuguese team.
- Portuguese Super Cup
- FA Cup
- Premier League (Tres)
- League Cup (two)
- Community Shield (dos)
- King’s Cup (two)
- league (two)
- Spanish Super Cup (two)
- Series A (two)
- Italian Super Cup (two)
- Italy Cup
- Champions League (Cinco)
- Club World Cup (four)
- European Super Cup (three)
- Eurocup
- UEFA Nations League.