Ronaldo Extends Al-Nassr Contract Until 2027 at Age 40
Marrakech – Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a two-year contract extension with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, the team announced Thursday. The new deal will keep the 40-year-old forward at the club until 2027, extending his stay in the Saudi Pro League.
'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together,' Ronaldo posted on the social media platform X.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation about the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's future. In May, Ronaldo had suggested his time at Al-Nassr might be ending, stating that the 'chapter is over.' This comment came after the Saudi Pro League season concluded with Al-Nassr finishing in third place.
Al-Nassr confirmed the extension with a video showing Ronaldo barefoot on a beach, smiling and simply saying, 'Al-Nassr forever.' The club's social media post included the caption 'The history continues…'
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 after leaving Manchester United following a public fallout with manager Erik ten Hag. His arrival in Saudi Arabia triggered an influx of high-profile players to the Saudi Pro League, including his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.
During his time at Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has scored prolifically. He has netted 93 goals in 105 appearances, according to Reuters, while the BBC reports 99 goals in 111 matches. He led the Saudi Pro League in scoring for the past two consecutive seasons, including 25 league goals in the most recent campaign.
'The presence of Ronaldo is a key factor in the development of the Saudi league over the past two and a half years. He opened the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia,' a source within the Saudi sovereign wealth fund (PIF) told AFP.
Despite his individual success, Ronaldo has yet to win the Saudi Pro League title or the Asian Champions League with Al-Nassr. The club finished as runners-up in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons before dropping to third place in the most recent campaign. He has, however, won the Arab Club Champions Cup with the team.
According to Forbes, Ronaldo remains the highest-paid athlete in the world, a position he has held for the past three years. At age 40, his estimated total earnings are approximately $275 million.
The Portuguese captain recently led his national team to victory in the UEFA Nations League earlier this month, defeating Spain in the final. With 138 goals for Portugal and 794 in club football, Ronaldo has scored a total of 932 goals in his career (BBC reports 938), putting him within reach of the 1,000-goal milestone.
The new contract means Ronaldo will still be playing professional football past his 42nd birthday. He is also likely targeting a sixth World Cup appearance next year, when the tournament will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously suggested Ronaldo might leave Al-Nassr to join a team qualified for the ongoing Club World Cup in the United States. Ronaldo, however, confirmed he had turned down offers from participating teams, choosing instead to remain with Al-Nassr. Tags: Al NassrCristiano Ronaldo
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
5 hours ago
- Morocco World
Ronaldo Extends Al-Nassr Contract Until 2027 at Age 40
Marrakech – Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a two-year contract extension with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, the team announced Thursday. The new deal will keep the 40-year-old forward at the club until 2027, extending his stay in the Saudi Pro League. 'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together,' Ronaldo posted on the social media platform X. The announcement ends weeks of speculation about the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's future. In May, Ronaldo had suggested his time at Al-Nassr might be ending, stating that the 'chapter is over.' This comment came after the Saudi Pro League season concluded with Al-Nassr finishing in third place. Al-Nassr confirmed the extension with a video showing Ronaldo barefoot on a beach, smiling and simply saying, 'Al-Nassr forever.' The club's social media post included the caption 'The history continues…' Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 after leaving Manchester United following a public fallout with manager Erik ten Hag. His arrival in Saudi Arabia triggered an influx of high-profile players to the Saudi Pro League, including his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema. During his time at Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has scored prolifically. He has netted 93 goals in 105 appearances, according to Reuters, while the BBC reports 99 goals in 111 matches. He led the Saudi Pro League in scoring for the past two consecutive seasons, including 25 league goals in the most recent campaign. 'The presence of Ronaldo is a key factor in the development of the Saudi league over the past two and a half years. He opened the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia,' a source within the Saudi sovereign wealth fund (PIF) told AFP. Despite his individual success, Ronaldo has yet to win the Saudi Pro League title or the Asian Champions League with Al-Nassr. The club finished as runners-up in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons before dropping to third place in the most recent campaign. He has, however, won the Arab Club Champions Cup with the team. According to Forbes, Ronaldo remains the highest-paid athlete in the world, a position he has held for the past three years. At age 40, his estimated total earnings are approximately $275 million. The Portuguese captain recently led his national team to victory in the UEFA Nations League earlier this month, defeating Spain in the final. With 138 goals for Portugal and 794 in club football, Ronaldo has scored a total of 932 goals in his career (BBC reports 938), putting him within reach of the 1,000-goal milestone. The new contract means Ronaldo will still be playing professional football past his 42nd birthday. He is also likely targeting a sixth World Cup appearance next year, when the tournament will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously suggested Ronaldo might leave Al-Nassr to join a team qualified for the ongoing Club World Cup in the United States. Ronaldo, however, confirmed he had turned down offers from participating teams, choosing instead to remain with Al-Nassr. Tags: Al NassrCristiano Ronaldo
Morocco World
8 hours ago
- Morocco World
Wydad Casablanca vs Al Ain: When, Where, How to Watch and Score Prediction
Rabat -Wydad Casablanca is facing AI Ain for their last match at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on June 26. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. Moroccan time at the Audi Field stadium in Washington, D.C. Fans can catch the action live on the MBC group, DAZN, TNT, TBS, and TruTV. Both Wydad Casablanca and Al Ain have lost their previous matches. Each team faced Juventus and Manchester City, but Wydad performed slightly better than Al Ain. The Moroccan side managed to score once in their 4-1 loss to Juventus, while Al Ain failed to score in either match, losing 5-0 to Juventus and 6-0 to Manchester City. The Moroccan and Saudi team will compete for the 3rd place in Groupe G, as their victory could have financial implications. Predicted Lineups Wydad AC : Benabid; Moufi, Meijers, Boutouil, Ferreira, Moufid; Amrabat, Malsa, El Moubarik, Lorch; Mailula Al Ain : Patricio; Autonne, Park, Rabia; Traore, Nader, Palacios, Chadli; Kaku; Laba, Rahimi Predicted Score MWN thinks Wydad AC will win with a 3-1
Ya Biladi
13 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Achraf Hakimi gains French media support for Ballon d'Or candidacy
Following a widespread Moroccan social media campaign, French sports media is now backing Achraf Hakimi's candidacy for the Ballon d'Or, as the debate intensifies ahead of the vote. On RMC Sport, football analyst Jean-Michel Larqué argued that Hakimi deserves recognition, stating that «it would be good for football» to see a defender win the award. He praised the Moroccan international for having «reinvented the full-back position» and called the PSG duo of Hakimi and Nuno Mendes «by far the best pair of full-backs in the world». Kevin Diaz, speaking on the After Foot show, went further, saying he would rank Hakimi as his top pick, citing the player's consistency and overall career. He also pointed to Hakimi's standout stats this season, 10 goals and 12 assists, «the stats of a forward in many leagues», he noted. Football legends like Cafu and Ronaldo (the Brazilian) have also publicly supported Hakimi's nomination. French commentators emphasize his versatility and influence on modern football, highlighting his ability to play both as a defender and an attacking midfielder. While names like Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé are among the current frontrunners, some voices in the French media argue that defenders like Hakimi deserve more recognition and that breaking the tradition of favoring attacking players would be a positive shift for the award. For the record, the 69th edition of the Ballon d'Or will take place on Monday, September 22, at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
