Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated that this season in the Saudi Pro League could be the final chapter of his professional football career.
The 41-year-old football icon’s contract with Al-Nassr, which he signed in December 2022, is set to expire next June, and he has shared with Vogue magazine that it is unlikely he will sign another.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave behind a remarkable legacy,” Ronaldo stated.
The Portuguese forward, who boasts a total of 976 career goals, recently married his longtime partner, Georgina Rodriguez.
“I have my future all planned out,” he mentioned. “There are so many activities I want to engage in that it’s difficult to highlight just one. Football has been such a significant part of my life, and I need to find various ways to occupy my time, not just one.”
“Additionally, I want to enjoy myself more, travel extensively, play padel, which I truly enjoy, and savor what I have achieved — what we have achieved together. After all, it has been 25 years filled with considerable sacrifices.”
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The 2026-27 SPL season marks Ronaldo’s 25th as a professional player. Throughout his career, he has earned five Ballon d’Or awards and five UEFA Champions League titles.
His impressive tally of 28 league goals last season contributed to Al-Nassr clinching the Saudi Arabian championship in May, marking his first trophy since his arrival in Riyadh and the club’s first league title since 2019.
After returning from his wedding, Ronaldo missed Al-Nassr’s initial match of their title defense on Saturday, watching from the sidelines as they secured a 3-0 victory over Al-Fateh.
“Cristiano is with us today, and he always remains a part of the team,” remarked Al-Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou following the match.
Ronaldo may take the field against Al-Diriyah in the King’s Cup on Tuesday.
“The priority now is recovery, especially since we only have two days left after this game,” Postecoglou, a former coach for Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest, stated.
Ronaldo’s remarks came shortly after his longtime competitor, Lionel Messi, disclosed that he might retire soon following the death of his father.
“I don’t know how to continue,” Messi, aged 39, expressed. “I used to simply play football, and now I’m uncertain about whether I will keep doing it for much longer.”