Cristiano Ronaldo is coming off of recently celebrating a victory with Portugal lifting the UEFA Nations League trophy. The final, contested against Spain, went to a 2-2 draw before Portugal defeated Spain in a penalty shootout. Ronaldo scored the only goal in the contest, evidence of his amazing skills on the world’s biggest soccer stage. He has now increased his historic record even further having scored his 138th goal for his country.
In a strategic move to extend his career, Ronaldo announced an extension of his contract with Al Nassr until 2027. The decision demonstrates the depth of his ambition to win a first major trophy with the Riyadh-based club. Since signing with Al Nassr in 2022, the 39-year-old has made headlines as a prolific goal-scorer. Having left Manchester United as a free agent, he has scored a staggering 93 goals in 105 matches in all competitions.
The buzz surrounding the newly-updated FIFA Club World Cup might be the most energizing aspect. Ronaldo decided to focus on recovery and didn’t participate in the tournament. He stated, “I had some offers to play in the [Club] World Cup but I think it didn’t make sense because I prefer to have a good rest, a good preparation, because this season will be very long as it is the World Cup season at the end of the year.” This decision aligns with his desire to maintain peak performance levels for both Al Nassr and the Portuguese national team.
Ronaldo’s commitment to Al Nassr is clear. He expressed his dedication by stating, “My goal, it’s always to win something important for Al-Nassr. Of course I still believe in that.” This newly-found emphasis on winning shows his love for the club — one which he literally calls a club of which he loves.
As he approaches his 42nd birthday, Ronaldo is chasing down a legendary milestone. He has a chance to score the 1,000th career goal during the length of the new contract. So far, he has racked up 932 goals, with 794 in club football. His remarkable consistency and skill have made him one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Ronaldo’s new long-term goal is the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This thrilling quadrennial tournament is being hosted for the very first time in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He wants to be at their best and get ready for club football and international football. I plan to be in a good condition, not just for Al Nassr but for the national team. When I asked him why he decided to play the semifinals match for Nations League as his last game, he said he chose to block out all the noise.
