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November 23, 2024
There might not be many chapters left in Ronaldo's journey in the football elite, but the Portuguese superstar is still determined to break a few more records before he hangs up the boots...
While many of his peers have hung up their boots and moved into a new phase of life, Cristiano Ronaldo keeps going strong for club and country. The 39-year-old was called up for Portugal's recent Nations League internationals and delivered the goods with a vintage performance against Poland. Ronaldo confirmed after the game that he wants to keep playing while he feels motivated and he will be desperate to achieve something tangible before he retires. He will undoubtedly be eager to win silverware with Al-Nassr, who gave him the opportunity to see out the latter years of his glorious career.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Podcasting on Youtube:
Al-Nassr have been hunting for a league title since their last success in 2019, and Ronaldo will be itching to be the man who ends their barren run. While Ronaldo may have lost several attributes that made him the most feared attacker in Europe, his class in the final third has never diminished. He won the Golden Boot in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) last season and has been scoring goals for fun during the ongoing 2024/25 campaign. Al-Nassr manager Stefano Pioli previously delivered a first Serie A title for AC Milan after an 11-year gap and could make a mark in Saudi Arabia by repeating that feat with Ronaldo leading the line.
Ronaldo remains a mainstay in the Portugal team, but for how long? Manager Roberto Martinez will be pondering whether they can thrive without their talisman. Although there is no case to drop him from the national squad right now, his guaranteed place in the starting XI is under threat. Ronaldo has continued to break record after record when called upon, and he is still capable of producing moments of genius for the Portugal.
One of those beautiful moments came in the clash with the Republic of Ireland in their final game before the 2024 European Championship. Portugal had the lead but needed to emphasise their advantage, and Ronaldo provided a moment of pure magic. He bent a superb goal beyond Caoimhin Kelleher before doubling his tally soon after. His efforts drew admiration from a plethora of bettors in Ireland, who had wagered heavily on him to get on the scoresheet against their own team.
While Irish fans hoped to see their team defy the odds, many of them had the foresight to hit betting sites in Ireland hard by backing the Portuguese legend to score. Ronaldo could still be useful to the Portuguese national team at the 2026 World Cup, although he may be limited to helping from the bench. He could be a lethal weapon coming on in the dying minutes against tired legs. The 2026 tournament could be the final swansong for one of the greatest international players ever.
Ronaldo will likely turn to his other business endeavours once his playing career ends. He is enjoying his podcasting adventure with YouTube, recently teasing a new guest that would break the internet. His channel garnered 16 million in 24 hours, setting a record, and he may be tempted to pursue this media avenue alongside John Mikel Obi, Shannon Sharpe, Jeff Teague and others. It is hard to envisage Ronaldo moving into coaching.
The five-time Champions League winner has enough side quests and partnerships to keep busy. He could continue as an ambassador for the SPL. He has built a reputable brand that should keep him earning the big bucks long after he has hung up his boots. Whatever he decides to do in the future, Ronaldo's global army of fans still have the chance to follow the great man’s on-field exploits for a little while yet.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on November 25, against Al Gharafa for the AFC Champions League. You can watch Al Gharafa vs Al Nassr, Milan vs Juventus, Celta de Vigo vs Barcelona, Manchester City vs Tottenham, Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest and Leicester City vs Chelsea, all matches provided from our live soccer game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Gharafa vs Al Nassr kick-off time (25-11-2024):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 23:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 20:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 18:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 17:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 16:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 13:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 12:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 09:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / variety.com / newarab.com
