"W for him, L for football" "Want him to retire with dignity" - Fans react as Cristiano Ronaldo's plans after retirement reportedly emerge
Fans have given polarizing reactions to reports claiming Cristiano Ronaldo wants to retire with Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr.
Saudi journalist Ali Al-Enezi stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Ronaldo intends to see out the rest of his career at KSU Stadium. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner joined Al-Alami on a two-and-a-half-year contract in January.
Al-Enezi said (via CristianoXtra):
"Cristiano Ronaldo will remain at Al Nassr and plans to retire at Al Nassr and go on to invest in the club."
This means Cristiano Ronaldo, 38, won't be returning to Europe where he made history as one of the greatest players in history. The Portugal captain won five UEFA Champions League trophies and won titles in England, Spain, and Italy.
However, he's enjoyed a prolific spell at Al-Nassr thus far, rolling back the years with iconic performances. He's netted 26 goals and eight assists in 31 games across competitions since arriving in the Middle East.
Ronaldo has started this season in scintillating fashion, bagging 12 goals and six assists in 12 games across competitions. Al-Alami's captain is the Saudi Pro League's current top scorer with 11 goals in nine games.
It's intriguing that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United legend is looking to invest in Al-Nassr in the future. He is currently the highest-paid player in the world, sitting on reported wages of £173 million per year.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo made clear his thoughts on the rise of Saudi football, particularly the ability to attract world-class talent. He said this past summer (via CNN):
"All the players are coming here … In one year, more top players will come to Saudi Arabia."
Ronaldo was joined in the Middle East by many European superstars such as Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad), Neymar (Al-Hilal), and Roberto Firmino (Al-Ahli). The Portuguese hero has a clear vision for how he sees the Saudi Pro League soon rivaling Europe's top leagues.
Fans have given their take on the 2016 European champion retiring with Al-Nassr. One fan reckons football will take a loss:
"W for him, L for football."
However, a Lionel Messi fan took aim at the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner's longtime rival:
"I want to retire with dignity."
Here's how fans on X reacted to Ronaldo appearing to have decided he wants to see out his career at Al-Nassr:
Cristiano Ronaldo insisted he'll play into his forties during a lie detector test
Fans may still have a few years left of watching Cristiano Ronaldo turn back the years at Al-Nassr. The Portuguese hero recently undertook a lie detector test with Binance's YouTube channel as part of a promotional campaign.
Ronaldo was asked various questions including whether he will be playing in his forties at the highest level. The Al-Alami superstar quickly responded [2:48]:
"Yes."
The lie detector test indicated that he was telling the truth meaning he could yet be part of Portugal's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign should they qualify. Recent reports claim Al-Nassr are looking to hold talks with the greatest goalscorer in history to extend his deal to 2027.