Tag: Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo rolled back the years with a spectacular overhead bicycle kick for Saudi side Al Nassr on Sunday.

The 40-year-old superstar met a cross from the right wing with an acrobatic volley that was too fierce for the goalkeeper to keep out, with the goal crowning Al Nassr’s 4-1 win over Al Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League.

The emphatic victory in Riyadh left Ronaldo’s side four points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League after nine matches.

Fellow former Premier League stars Joao Felix and Sadio Mane were also on the scoresheet.

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United star Ronaldo has yet to win a title since moving to the Saudi club nearly three years ago.

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Notably, Ronaldo has just returned from international duty with Portugal, during which he was sent off against Ireland but celebrated his country qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The Portuguese star is set to appear in a record sixth World Cup during next year’s mega event in the United States of America (USA), Mexico and Canada.

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Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said he wants Ireland fans to boo him in Thursday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Dublin.

Portugal will reach the 2026 World Cup finals with a victory, and Ronaldo said if the crowd focused on him, it could take pressure off his teammates.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is aiming to play at a sixth World Cup next summer, and Portugal lead qualifying Group F by five points with two matches remaining.

“The stadium will boo me, I’m used to it, I certainly hope they do, maybe it will take the pressure off other players,” Ronaldo told a news conference on Wednesday.

Ronaldo said he expected it would be a “difficult” match, with Ireland sitting back and denying him and his teammates space.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward was also asked about the possibility of scoring his 1000th career goal in the World Cup final.

“You’ve been watching too many movies, that would be too perfect,” laughed Ronaldo, 40.

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“Getting back to reality, all this data makes me happy. A national team never depends on one player, but I like being able to make a difference with goals.

“It’s always good to score goals, that’s my position. I want to play in this next World Cup; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here, but let’s take it step by step.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, currently playing at Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, has scored 953 goals in his career to date.

The striker is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 goals and said Tuesday he believes the 2026 World Cup will be his last and he expects to retire from football within a couple of years.

However, on Wednesday, Ronaldo said he preferred to focus on the team’s goal of qualifying rather than discuss his future in the game.

“There’s no point in being repetitive and losing focus,” he added. “Maybe later on I’ll give more interviews and speak more clearly about what I think for the future, but Portugal has another opportunity to be in another final.”

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Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday said that the FIFA World Cup 2026 would be his last as he winds down one of the all-time great careers.

The 40-year-old forward, with more than 950 club and international goals, also said he would retire from football in “one or two years”.

“Definitely, yes,” he told a Saudi forum by video link, when asked if 2026 would be his final World Cup. “I’m gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment.”

Ronaldo, who began a lucrative stint at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in 2023, also elaborated on comments last week when he said he would retire “soon”.

“Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years, I’ll still be at the game,” he said.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is hoping to play at a sixth World Cup next year. He came closest to lifting the trophy on debut in 2006, when Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals.

Portugal have yet to qualify for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, but can secure their spot if they beat Ireland on Thursday.

Last month, Ronaldo became the top goalscorer in World Cup qualifying history when he netted twice against Hungary to reach 41 goals, overtaking retired Guatemalan international Carlos Ruiz’s 39.

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The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward is also the all-time leading international goalscorer with 143 strikes.

During an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored last week, Ronaldo opened up further about the realities of his looming retirement.

“It will be difficult? Yes. Probably will cry, yes. I’m an open person. It will be very, very difficult, yes,” he said.

Ronaldo joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United for a second time in late 2022, a move that heralded an influx of late-career stars to the oil-rich kingdom.

Ronaldo initially signed for 200 million euros a year, according to a source close to Al Nassr at the time, and inked a two-year contract extension in June.

Last month, he was named by Bloomberg as the sport’s first billionaire, and topped the Forbes list of highest-paid footballers for the sixth time in a decade.

With on-and off-field earnings of an estimated $280 million, Ronaldo will earn more than double that of second-placed rival Lionel Messi during the upcoming season, according to Forbes.

Saudi Arabia, which is spending big on sports and entertainment as part of its economic diversification plan, was named as host of the 2034 World Cup last December.

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Ruben Amorim has told Manchester United to “focus on the future” following former Old Trafford star Cristiano Ronaldo’s withering assessment of his old club.

United are looking to rebuild following a woeful 2024/25 season, which saw them finish a lowly 15th in the Premier League and lose in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Ronaldo insisted this week United manager Amorim cannot do “miracles” at a club that is “not on a good path”, saying “they need to change and it’s not only about the coach and players”.

But when Ronaldo’s comments were put to his former Portugal team-mate ahead of this weekend’s trip to Spurs, the United boss said: “Of course he knows and he has a huge impact in everything he said.

“What we need to focus (on) is in the future. We know that we as a club made a lot of mistakes in the past, but we are trying to change that. So, let’s not focus on what happened. Let’s focus on what we are doing now, and we are doing that.”

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Amorim said the changes being put in place were having positive results.

“We are changing a lot of things in the structure, the way we do things, the way we want the players to behave,” said the 40-year-old coach.

“We are doing that and we are improving, so let’s focus on the way we are doing things. We are improving, let’s continue and forget a little bit the past.”

United have lost their last four games against Spurs.

However, they head into Saturday’s match unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches, a sequence that includes a 2-1 win over champions and arch-rivals Liverpool.

Amorim, asked how United had changed since being beaten by Spurs in the Europa League final in May, replied: “First of all, the characteristics of the players. So, we are a better team, we play better, we understand the game better. I think we are more confident.

“We reached that final confident that we could win because we were doing well in Europe, but in this moment we play with a different confidence.

“We manage the moments of the game better. But if you remember that game, they had that shot on the goal; they won the game.

“So, I expect a different game, where we can play better, but also to have a little bit of luck to help us win the game.”

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Portugal’s football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has downplayed the importance of winning a FIFA World Cup, insisting that his legacy does not depend on the only major trophy missing from his illustrious career.

The 40-year-old forward, who already holds the record for most goals in men’s international football (143) and an astonishing 952 career goals overall, believes his greatness cannot be judged on a single tournament.

Speaking in an upcoming interview with Piers Morgan, the Al Nassr and Portugal captain said the World Cup is not something he views as a lifelong dream.

“If you ask me, Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it’s not a dream,” Ronaldo said in a teaser clip released ahead of the full interview.

Ronaldo questioned the logic of defining a footballer’s entire legacy based on one event that spans just a handful of matches.

“To define if I’m one of the best in history, you think it’s fair to depend on one competition of six or seven games?” he asked rhetorically.

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The five-time Ballon d’Or and Champions League winner’s comments come amid ongoing comparisons with Lionel Messi, who famously described Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph as “the dream of my life.”

Ronaldo, however, made it clear he disagrees with being measured by that standard.

“Is Messi better than me? I disagree. I don’t want to be humble,” he stated.

Despite not lifting the World Cup, Ronaldo’s international career remains decorated.

He led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory, followed by the inaugural UEFA Nations League title in 2019, and another triumph in the same competition this summer.

He is also the only player to feature in six European Championships and holds the record for most goals (14) in the tournament’s history.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he plans to retire “soon” as the Portugal and Al Nassr star prepares for a tearful end to his glittering career.

Ronaldo discussed his thoughts on retirement and his life after football in an interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored.

The 40-year-old, who has scored a remarkable 952 goals, is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game, but the end is in sight for his astonishing career.

Asked when he would consider hanging up his boots, Ronaldo, who is under contract with Al Nassr until 2027, replied: “Soon. But I think I will be prepared.

“It will be tough, of course. It will be difficult? Yes. Probably will cry, yes. I’m an open person. It will be very, very difficult, yes.

“But Piers, I prepare my future since 25, 26, 27 years old, I prepare my future. So I think I will be capable to support that pressure.”

Ronaldo is confident he will be able to cope without football because he wants to focus on his family and his off-the-pitch interests.

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“Nothing will be able to compare to the adrenaline that we have for football to score a goal,” he said.

“But everything has a beginning, and everything has an end. I have other passions. I’m going to have more time for me, I’m going to have more time for my family to raise my kids.

“I want to follow Cristiano Junior because he’s at an age when kids do stupid things. I was the same. Mateo loves football as well.

“I want to do more fun things. I love playing Padel with my closest friends. We are getting quite good.”

After starting his career with Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo enjoyed successful spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

He won three Premier League titles and the Champions League, among other trophies, in his first stint in Manchester.

Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr after leaving United for a second time in 2022.

He still looks out for the Premier League club’s results, given his affinity with their current manager — his former Portugal team-mate Ruben Amorim.

But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner warned United fans to not expect miracles from Amorim, who is in the midst of a rollercoaster reign at Old Trafford following his arrival 12 months ago.

“He’s doing his best,” Ronaldo said. “What are you going to do? Miracles. Miracles is impossible.

“He’s not going to do miracles. They have good players, but they don’t have some of them in mind what Manchester United is.

“Manchester United is still in my heart. I love that club. But we have all to be honest and look for ourselves and say, ‘Listen, they are not in a good path’. So, they need to change, and it’s not only about the coach and players, in my opinion.”

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RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo added another milestone to his legendary career on Sunday as he lifted his second successive Golden Boot in the Saudi Pro League (SPL).

The Al Nassr captain, widely celebrated as CR7, was presented with the 2024-25 Golden Boot award by Saudi football great Majed Abdullah during a pre-match ceremony at Al Awwal Park, ahead of his side’s clash with Al Kholood.

The 40-year-old striker topped the scoring charts last season with 25 goals in 30 league appearances, securing his second SPL Golden Boot.

His first came in the 2023-24 season, where he netted an astonishing 35 goals in 31 matches, finishing well clear of Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrović.

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Already football’s all-time leading international scorer, Ronaldo has now scored 74 goals in 77 league appearances since joining Al Nassr in December 2022.

With four European Golden Shoes to his name from his time in Europe, he continues to add to an already unmatched legacy in world football.

In his acceptance, Ronaldo expressed gratitude to fans, sharing on Instagram: “Together we fight, together we win. Thank you all for your support, let’s keep it going.”

 

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A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

The night got even better for Al Nassr as they cruised to a 2-0 win over Al Kholood, courtesy of second-half goals from Sadio Mané and debutant Iñigo Martínez.

The result means Al Nassr have opened a league season with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019-20, and are unbeaten in their last 10 league matches in September.

Ronaldo finished last season with 25 goals and three assists in the SPL, totaling 35 goals in all competitions.

He now aims for an unprecedented third consecutive Golden Boot as Al Nassr defends their league title.

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Portuguese star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his deep sorrow in a heartfelt tribute to his teammate Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car crash in Spain.

Diogo Jota was with his brother Andre when their car crashed near Zamora in northwestern Spain and burst into flames.

The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the Liverpool star’s death in the crash along with his brother on Thursday.

“We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day,” the Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement.

Following Diogo Jota’s tragic death, his Portuguese teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, issued a statement mourning the footballer.

“It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married,” Cristiano Ronaldo wrote in a post on Facebook.

“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you,” he added.

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Liverpool FC also mourned the footballer’s devastating death in fatal car accident.

“The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre,” the club wrote on social media.

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

“We will continue to provide them with our full support,” the club added.

It is worth noting here that Diogo Jota was with Liverpool when they won the Premier League last season.

He also made 49 appearances for Portugal, winning the UEFA Nations League on two occasions.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a staggering new two-year deal with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, with details emerging that make it the most lucrative contract in sporting history.

According to a report by The Sun, the fresh terms are worth a basic £492 million over two years, which breaks down to a jaw-dropping £488,000 per day in base salary alone.

The renewed deal will see the five-time Ballon d’Or winner continue with Al Nassr past his 42nd birthday.

The Portuguese superstar is also set to receive a £24.5 million signing bonus, which increases to £38 million if he activates the second year of the deal.

On top of that, Ronaldo has been handed a 15% ownership stake in Al Nassr, reportedly valued at £33 million.

Ronaldo’s new role will also include serving as a “dream ambassador” for the Kingdom, a position that could push his overall earnings well beyond £500 million over the course of the contract.

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If he bags further bonuses for achievements such as winning the Saudi Pro League and finishing as the top scorer, he’s set to comfortably eclipse the half-a-billion-pound mark.

Beyond the astronomical salary, Ronaldo’s lifestyle will continue to be supported by Al Nassr.

The club is reportedly covering the wages of a 16-person entourage, including three drivers, four housekeepers, two chefs, three gardeners, and four security personnel, costing around £1.4 million.

There’s also a £4 million allowance for private jet usage, along with commercial deals with Saudi companies projected to bring in an additional £60 million.

It’s worth mentioning that Cristiano Ronaldo scored 35 goals in 41 appearances for Al Nassr last season and was the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer for the second year running.

He now has 99 goals in 111 games for the club and remains in pursuit of a historic 1,000 career goals, currently sitting on 938.

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Cristiano Ronaldo inked a two-year extension with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, the club announced Thursday, following months of speculation over which team he would sign for next season.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027,” the club wrote in a post on X.

Minutes before the official confirmation, the team posted a teaser video, with the 40-year-old Ronaldo walking along a beachfront and saying: “Al Nassr forever”.

Ronaldo later posted a message on his Instagram, confirming the extension.

“A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together,” read the post.

The Portuguese superstar arrived in 2023 in the kingdom to play with the club, heralding a rush of players in the latter stages of their careers to the oil-rich country.

Last month, Ronaldo posted “This chapter is over” hours after the Saudi Pro League wrapped up with Al Nassr finishing third and trophyless once again.

“Ronaldo’s presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league in the last two years and a half. He opens the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia,” a source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a major investor in Saudi football, told AFP last month.

The oil-funded PIF, the sovereign wealth fund behind a number of big-ticket Saudi investments, controls a group of Pro League clubs including Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ahli.

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Ronaldo’s announcement in May came just months after Brazilian star Neymar ended his injury-plagued 18-month stay in January, after playing just seven times for Al Hilal — on a reported salary of around $104 million a year.

Although Ronaldo was the Pro League’s top scorer with 25 goals, he has been unable to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al Nassr, who lost in the Asian Champions League semi-finals last month.

Last year, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he could end his career with Al Nassr, the Riyadh team favoured by a number of Saudi royals.

Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo’s move in late 2022, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.

For the past two years, Saudi football fans could watch the likes of Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, with six Ballons d’Or between them, on any given weekend during the football season in the kingdom.

However, the oil-fuelled Saudi football project has drawn comparisons with the Chinese Super League, which imported players on exorbitant salaries until team owners went bust as the Chinese economy fizzled.

But with Saudi Arabia set to host the 2034 World Cup, and desperate to re-model itself as a tourism and business magnet before global oil demand falls for good, there is probably more to come from the Pro League.

Ronaldo appeared to trade an end-of-career payday for football obscurity when he first moved to Riyadh’s Al Nassr two years ago in a deal said to be worth $250 million at the time

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