Portugal International Cristiano Ronaldo on Monday sparked speculation about his future with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr following a cryptic social media post. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January 2023 on a contract running until June 2025, after parting ways with Manchester United.
He parted ways with the club after a controversial interview in which he criticised the club and the then manager, Erik ten Hag, who’s now Bayer Leverkusen’s new head coach.
The Portugal captain posted a cryptic message on his X page after Al Nassr lost 3-2 to Al-Fateh in their final Saudi Pro League match of the season at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium. The 40-year-old wrote: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.”
Ronaldo finished the season as the league’s top scorer, claiming the Golden Boot for a second time with 25 goals—two more than his closest rival, Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney.
Al Nassr’s defeat to Al-Fateh saw them miss out on a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite. They entered the final matchday needing a victory to overtake Al Hilal and secure second place, which would have granted them qualification.
Their hopes were briefly revived on Sunday when they were awarded three points after Al-Orouba, who had beaten them 2-1, were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.
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Ronaldo’s post also comes just days after FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that the forward could still feature in the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States this June. Infantino noted that the unique transfer window for the tournament could allow Ronaldo to join one of the 32 participating teams, despite Al Nassr not qualifying.
FIFA confirmed last Wednesday that last-minute signings are permitted for all clubs in the competition, fuelling speculation that a short-term move—possibly a loan—could see Ronaldo feature in the event.
Should Ronaldo participate, he may once again face long-time rival Lionel Messi, marking their first encounter since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The two were fierce competitors in Europe before moving to new leagues.
Ronaldo has now scored 99 goals for Al Nassr, bringing his overall club goal tally to 800. He has a great career at Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr, along with a record-breaking international career for Portugal.
As of press time, neither Ronaldo nor Al Nassr has issued an official statement regarding the player’s future at the club.
