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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.
