 |
|
October 16, 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo is said to be considering retirement after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The iconic Portuguese forward has featured in five World Cups and aims to make the upcoming tournament his swansong...
Even with approximately three years before the FIFA World Cup kicks, Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly planning to retire after participating in the scheduled 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Portuguese forward pride himself in an unmatched sporting career. Cristiano has already played five World Cups and intends to be part of the upcoming one. Here is everything you need to know about one of the most loved sportsmen of this century...
Cristiano Ronaldo - Simply Unstoppable:
After a dramatic exit at Manchester United, Ronaldo has proven to be the soccer star he has always been. The 38-year-old has been on a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr. He has been phenomenal at the Saudi-based club, with ten goals and five assists in eight-team appearances. Ronaldo remains among the most-decisive players at the club amid retirement plans.
Ronaldo has played for Portugal, scored 123 goals, and earned at least 201 caps for his country. This success makes him the highest goal-scorer in international soccer. The elite forward helped his country win the 2016 Euros. In addition, Ronaldo has played in other competitive leagues, including the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga.
There exists a huge rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi, with debates about the greatest player of the two. The two have been competing for over a decade with 12 Ballon d'Or awards split between the Portuguese and Argentine's name.
According to the striker, there will always be contention between the two, even if he helps Portugal win the coveted World Cup. This is a dream that he hopes to keep alive. Ronaldo is optimistic and reports that even if he never wins this prestigious title, he would be proud of giving his best in his football career. Another intriguing fact is both Ronaldo and Messi won't be part of the 2023-2024 Champions League tournament, as they play for teams that did not qualify for the prestigious title.
For ggbet bettors, it is intriguing to know how the two compare in competitive soccer. Check these stats:
• Messi has won the World Cup with Argentina in the 2022 season, while Ronaldo hasn't been successful.
• Ronaldo boasts of five Champions League titles, while his counterpart has three.
• Messi boasts of more club titles, with Ronaldo scoring more goals for domestic and international leagues.
• Ronaldo has the bragging rights of being the first-ever player to record 850 goals in history.
Ronaldo's move to the Saudi Arabia pro league has been instrumental in his career despite fans thinking it was a downgrade. This move has proven to be beneficial and brought the Saudi Arabian Pro League to the limelight. Consequently, several other top players, such as Benzema and N'golo Kante, have followed suit to sign for Saudi Arabian clubs.
Currently, the Saudi Arabia Pro League is a tight contest with more exciting and competitive gameplay for the ultimate title race. For example, the game against Al-Tai could have ended in a surprising 1-1 draw, but Ronaldo's 87th-minute goal defined the game.
Ronaldo plans to extend his contract with the club, which could see him play up to early 2027. It means that he could still be in professional football scenes aged 40. The superstar plans to retire at Al Nassr and is confident that age isn't a factor in retiring as he still loves football, scoring, and winning.
He remains fit and hopes to be in shape for the next three seasons and help Portugal bag the 2026 World Cup. The global showpiece could be the ultimate decider of his prowess against his Argentine rival, Messi. Among Ronaldo’s retirement plans is to own a football club within three years after his retirement. The legend has all it takes to be a club owner.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on October 21 for the Saudi Pro League, against Dhamk. You can watch Al Nassr vs Dhamk, France vs Scotland, Peru vs Argentina, England vs Italy, Uruguay vs Brazil and Belgium vs Sweden, all matches provided from our soccer live game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Nassr vs Dhamk kick-off time (13-10-2023):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 23:0
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 20:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+3: 18:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 17:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 16:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 12:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 11:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 08:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / goal.com / espn.co.uk
