Tag: Ronaldo

Saudi Arabian football club Al-Nassr FC are considering integrating Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. into their senior setup, raising the possibility of a historic on-field link-up with his father Cristiano Ronaldo, according to recent reports.

The club is exploring plans to include the teenage forward in first-team training from the 2026/27 season, with a gradual pathway that could eventually lead to a senior squad appearance.

While no official confirmation has been made, the idea has gained traction given Ronaldo Jr.’s steady rise through the youth ranks.

Currently part of Al-Nassr’s academy system, he has been one of the standout performers at the U-16 and U-17 levels.

The timeline also aligns with a key eligibility milestone. Ronaldo Jr., born on June 17, 2010, will turn 16 this summer, the minimum age required to sign a professional contract and feature in senior football.

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This opens a realistic window for a potential father-son partnership, particularly with Cristiano Ronaldo’s current deal at Al-Nassr running until 2027. The veteran forward, still performing at the highest level in his 40s, could share the pitch with his son if the club proceeds with its plans.

Sources indicate that Al-Nassr’s hierarchy is closely monitoring the youngster’s development, with an emphasis on easing him into the senior environment rather than rushing his progression.

Importantly, Ronaldo Jr.’s rise has not been built on reputation alone. The teenager has delivered consistent performances at the youth level, including a recent hat-trick in a 4-3 win for Al-Nassr’s U-16 side against Al Fayha.

On the international stage, he has also made notable strides, helping Portugal’s U-16 team secure the Algarve International Tournament title earlier this year, his third youth trophy, already surpassing his father’s tally at the same age.

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Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return to action for Al Nassr after bringing an end to his recent dispute with the Saudi Pro League club, sources told ESPN Brasil.

The Portugal captain had missed two matches, Al Nassr’s 2-0 victory over Al Ittihad on Friday and last week’s win against Al Riyadh, amid reported frustration over issues involving Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and its role in the club’s affairs.

Sources indicated that Ronaldo has now decided to rejoin the squad and is set to feature in Al Nassr’s league clash against Al Fateh on February 14.

The Riyadh-based side are also scheduled to play Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two on Wednesday.

Reports suggested Ronaldo’s absence stemmed from dissatisfaction with the PIF’s involvement in transfer dealings and broader club management.

The situation intensified after Al Nassr’s rivals, Al Hilal, also majority-owned by the PIF, secured the signing of Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, from Al Ittihad during the January transfer window.

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However, the matter appears to have been resolved after Ronaldo’s key concerns were addressed.

According to sources, overdue salaries at Al Nassr were cleared, and authority was restored to the club’s senior management.

Sporting director Simão Coutinho and CEO José Semedo, who had previously been suspended, have reportedly resumed their duties.

Ronaldo has been in impressive form this season, scoring 18 goals and providing three assists in 22 appearances across competitions.

Al Nassr currently sit second in the Saudi Pro League standings, just one point behind leaders Al Hilal, keeping the title race finely poised.

Last week, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement stressing that no individual player could influence decisions beyond their club, reiterating that all teams operate independently under the same regulatory and financial framework.

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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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Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., son of Portugal captain and global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, made his international debut for the country’s Under-16 team in the Federation Cup in Turkey.

The 15-year-old forward came off the bench during stoppage time as Portugal U16 cruised to a 2–0 win over hosts Turkey in Antalya, with goals from Sporting CP’s Samuel Tavares and SC Braga’s Rafael Cabral sealing the result.

Though Ronaldo Jr.’s cameo was brief, it marked a significant milestone in a journey that has already captured worldwide attention.

Having honed his skills at Al Nassr’s youth setup in Saudi Arabia, where his father currently stars, the youngster’s progression through the Portuguese ranks has been rapid.

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Earlier this year, he impressed with a brace in Portugal’s 3–2 victory over Croatia in the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament final, further strengthening his credentials as one to watch.

This debut comes as his father, Cristiano Ronaldo Sr., continues to redefine football longevity, having recently surpassed 950 career goals and extended his record as the highest scorer in men’s international football.

Portugal’s U16 side, having opened their campaign with a win, will next face Wales on November 1 before taking on England on November 4 in the group stages.

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Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo became the top goalscorer in World Cup qualifying history at the age of 40 on Tuesday against Hungary.

Ronaldo netted his 40th and 41st qualifying goals, overtaking retired Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz, who scored 39 between 1998 and 2016.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner levelled for Portugal against Hungary in a 2026 World Cup qualifier after 22 minutes by finishing from Nelson Semedo’s cross.

Ronaldo pounced again before half-time after being set up by Nuno Mendes to give Portugal a 2-1 lead at the break.

Ronaldo, also the all-time top international goalscorer with 143 strikes, is aiming to play at a sixth World Cup.

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However, Hungary grabbed a late 2-2 draw to stop Portugal from reaching the 2026 edition with two games to spare.

After Attila Szalai netted for the visitors, Ronaldo’s first-half brace put Roberto Martinez’s side on the verge of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

However, Dominik Szoboszlai struck in stoppage time to make Portugal wait and boost his nation’s hopes of making it to the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Portugal snatched a late victory from a five-goal thriller when the teams met in Hungary in September, as Marco Rossi’s side showed their steel.

Hoping to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, Hungary again proved a tough nut to crack.

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Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record for World Cup qualifying goals, but Hungary grabbed a late 2-2 draw to stop Portugal from reaching the 2026 edition with two games to spare.

After Attila Szalai netted for the visitors, Ronaldo’s first-half brace put Roberto Martinez’s side on the verge of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

However, Dominik Szoboszlai struck in stoppage time to make Portugal wait and boost his nation’s hopes of making it to the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

“We are getting closer to our goal! Let’s go, Portugal,” said Ronaldo on X after the game.

Martinez’s side top Group F with 10 points, five clear of Hungary.

“We didn’t manage the game in the last 10 minutes well enough,” admitted Spanish coach Martinez.

“If you don’t kill the game, you need to know how to manage it until the end. Today we stopped playing and Hungary equalised.”

Portugal snatched a late victory from a five-goal thriller when the teams met in Hungary in September, as Marco Rossi’s side showed their steel.

Hoping to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, Hungary again proved a tough nut to crack.

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They took an early lead through Szalai, when the tall defender headed home from Szoboszlai’s corner after eight minutes.

Ronaldo, still leading the line for his country at 40, soon levelled, tucking home after Nelson Semedo crossed for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

It was his 40th goal in World Cup qualifying, setting a new record ahead of retired Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz on 39.

Ronaldo, who missed a penalty against Ireland at the weekend, extended his tally before half-time with his 143rd international goal, also an all-time record.

The veteran was in the right place at the right time again to clinically finish off a cross from Nuno Mendes and give his team the edge in an end-to-end clash.

Hungary pushed for an equaliser in the second half and Szalai hit the crossbar with another header.

Martinez took off Ronaldo, who is hoping to play at a sixth World Cup, but Nations League champions Portugal could not keep hold of their lead.

Eventually, Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai found the leveller when he arrived at the back post to finish off Daniel Lukacs’s low cross, which found its way through.

“I’m proud of everyone, I’m proud of the whole team,” said Szoboszlai. “I couldn’t get to the near post, so I went for the far post. I don’t know how many legs the ball went through, but it worked out.”

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Brazil great Ronaldo has called on the Selecao’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti to restore Neymar to the squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America.

Brazil’s record goalscorer with 79 goals from 128 matches, Neymar, has not pulled on the yellow jersey since October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury.

The 33-year-old has played regularly for the Sao Paulo side Santos since he returned to his first club in January following a fruitless spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal.

Even so, in his four matches in charge, Ancelotti has not called up Neymar.

“He is a decisive player for the Brazilian Selecao. We don’t have another player like Neymar,” Ronaldo, who twice won the World Cup with Brazil, said during a publicity event in Sao Paulo alongside his compatriot.

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“The people hope 100 percent that he will go to the World Cup because if he is there, we will definitely have better results than if he’s not there,” added Ronaldo, 49, who scored 62 goals in 99 Brazil games.

Neymar has been injury-plagued in the last few years and missed Brazil’s Copa America triumph on home soil in 2019.

He joined Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 but after playing just five times and scoring one goal, he ruptured his cruciate knee ligament on international duty against Uruguay.

He was out of action for a year and would play only two more games for the Saudi side before leaving for Santos.

After leaving Neymar out of his squad for World Cup qualifiers in September, Ancelotti said that he “needs to get in better shape to help the national team and to give the best of himself at the World Cup.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Germany in Munich on Wednesday, sending Portugal through to the Nations League final and breaking his run of bad fortune against the Germans.

Ronaldo’s 68th-minute tap in, a record-extending 137th international goal, sealed a first win over Germany after five losses, the 40-year-old’s longest streak against any national side without tasting victory.

After a stuttering first half, Florian Wirtz produced a moment of magic to give Germany the lead three minutes after halftime, starting and finishing a clever burst through the middle and heading in the opener.

Portugal’s Francisco Conceicao ran 35 metres to score a brilliant solo goal, levelling things up with half an hour remaining.

Conceicao’s goal was a fitting tribute to his father Sergio, who scored a hat-trick the last time Portugal beat Germany in a 3-0 win in 2000.

The stage was then set for Ronaldo, who had missed two solid chances earlier, to land the telling blow, turning in a Nuno Mendes pass from close range.

Portugal, winners of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, will now face either European champions Spain or France in Sunday’s final at the same venue.

Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva celebrated Ronaldo’s relentless desire to play and win.

“It’s never easy — I don’t know how old he is, I think he’s like 40 — to still be hungry to go on every day,” said Silva. “We’re very happy to have him with us.”

Portugal had four players backing up from winning Saturday’s Champions League final — and the ensuing celebrations — but it was Germany who struggled to find rhythm early.

The match started 10 minutes late due to a violent storm, which left hailstones scattered across the turf.

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Aleksandar Pavlovic mislaid several passes while Portugal’s approach of pressing Jonathan Tah almost paid dividends, with the defender insecure in possession.

Ronaldo, greeted by Portuguese cheers and German boos every time he came near the ball, almost scored the opener six minutes in, but his shot was claimed by old La Liga sparring partner Marc-Andre ter Stegen, playing his first match for Germany since September 2024.

Germany’s best chance of the opening half fell to debutant Nick Woltemade with 18 minutes gone, but the 1.98-metre-tall striker’s low shot was well saved by Diogo Costa.

Ronaldo was inches away from giving Portugal the lead when the visitors broke immediately after halftime, but he was unable to get enough of his boot on a clever Nuno Mendes cross with an open goal beckoning.

Germany took less than a minute to punish the miss. Wirtz tiptoed down the left side, attracting three defenders before laying off for Joshua Kimmich.

The German captain chipped it over the Portugal defence and back to Wirtz, who expertly guided a low header into the bottom right corner.

Both sides made three changes on the 60-minute mark, but it was Roberto Martinez’s substitutions that had the telling impact.

Five minutes after coming on, Conceicao shed Robin Gosens with a shimmy near the halfway line and advanced goalwards before unleashing a superb curling shot past the desperate fingers of Ter Stegen.

Ronaldo then put Portugal in front, nervelessly tapping in a Nuno Mendes pass to make up for his previous misses – his 137th goal for Portugal in his 219th international.

Munich-born Karim Adeyemi rattled the crossbar with eight minutes remaining, but Germany could not find an equaliser and will need to be content with a third-placed match in Stuttgart on Sunday.

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