Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr is under the impression that veteran attacker Cristiano Ronaldo will be finishing his career in Saudi Arabia.

According to ESPN's Rob Dawson, club officials "believe it is unlikely that he will play somewhere else before hanging up his boots. Sources have told ESPN that Al Nassr have not ruled out extending Ronaldo's contract if he wants to continue his playing career."

Ronaldo is already under contract for two-and-a-half years with the Saudi Pro League side in a deal worth $200 million, which will take him through the 2025 season. At that point, he'll be 40.

While Ronaldo didn't score in his league debut against Ettifaq, a 1-0 win for Al Nassr, he reportedly arrived in Saudi Arabia with a collection of "best practices" that the club have been working to install.

His manager, Rudi Garcia, was pleased with his debut despite his failure to open with a goal.

"I told the players they need to make the right choices on the pitch," he said. "Obviously Cristiano Ronaldo is asking for the ball and we have to give him the ball because he's the player who can make the difference. We need to work a lot on the positions of everyone. Sometimes we had crosses but not enough people in the box. We need to work on that."

Ronaldo, 37, has played for some of the biggest clubs in world football, including Manchester United (twice), Real Madrid and Juventus. His time at United ended in controversy, however, as he blasted ownership and various other members of the club publicly in an effort to force a move away from Old Trafford.

The belief at the time was that Ronaldo was seeking Champions League football, but no such suitors materialized, and he ended up at Al Nassr instead. And for the time being, it appears that will be where he concludes his club career.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are footballing legends, and the chance to see them play against one another is a bucket list item for many fans.

For one fan in particular, however, it was a bucket list item worth spending literal millions on to procure.

According to ESPN's Rob Dawson, "A football fan has paid $2.6 million for a VIP ticket" to see the two square off on Thursday at the King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday when Messi's Paris Saint-Germain face Ronaldo's Al Nassr and select players from Al Hilal.

The ticket was a special "Beyond Imagination" item that "was auctioned off by the Saudi government's entertainment arm promising the winner the opportunity to meet Ronaldo and Messi, as well as access to the team dressing rooms and trophy award."

Bidding started at $260,000 and skyrocketed from there. The proceeds reportedly will go to charity.

Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina star Lionel Messi headlines the list of nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Player of 2022, while Barcelona and Spain's Alexia Putellas looks to win The Best FIFA Women's Player honors for a second straight year:

Nominees for #TheBest FIFA Men's player are here 🤩 pic.twitter.com/TY3IenOky8

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 12, 2023

#TheBest FIFA Women's player nominees 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3U6JfWBCNY

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 12, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo is notably absent after being nominated every year since the award's formation in 2016. The Portuguese forward has won the award twice and was a finalist five times in six years.

He was one of 11 nominees for the 2021 award, splitting time between Juventus and Manchester United, and made the FIFA FIFPRO Men's World 11.

Ronaldo hasn't justified consideration for the 2022 list given his struggles this season. The 37-year-old had just one goal and no assists in 10 Premier League appearances with Manchester United before the team terminated his contract in November. He signed with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr two weeks ago, but he is yet to make his debut.

Among the numerous quality candidates for the award, Messi is arguably the favorite after leading Argentina to a World Cup title last month with seven goals and three assists in seven matches.

The 35-year-old also has eight goals with 10 assists in 14 Ligue 1 matches for PSG, putting him in contention to win the award for the second time.

A big performance at the World Cup also helped compatriot Julián Álvarez earn a nomination despite a limited role with Manchester City at the club level.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is a nominee for the Coach of the Year award, while Emiliano Martínez is a candidate to win best goalkeeper.

Messi's Paris Saint-Germain teammates are also well represented as Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Achraf Hakimi all earned nominations. Mbappé won the Golden Boot at the World Cup with eight goals in seven matches for France, including a hat trick in the final against Argentina.

The 24-year-old also has 20 goals in 22 matches across all competitions for PSG this season.

Real Madrid has three nominees after winning the 2022 Champions League title, including reigning Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, even though he missed the World Cup for France because of an injury.

On the women's side, Putellas will look to win a second straight trophy after also earning the Ballon d'Or Féminin in 2021 and 2022.

Ada Hegerberg and Wendie Renard are nominees after helping Lyon win the 2022 Champions League title, while Chelsea's Sam Kerr is another top option with her sustained success in the Women's Super League.

Alex Morgan is the only United States international on the list, while USWNT teammate Alyssa Naeher is a nominee for the best women's goalkeeper.

Over two million fans are hoping to see a potential matchup between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on Jan. 19:

Over 2 million people requested tickets to witness Cristiano Ronaldo's first game in Saudi Arabia against PSG, sources have told ESPN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/wLeIPoP57P

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 12, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr last month after parting ways with Manchester United, but he is yet to make his debut with the team. He missed the first two matches with his new club while serving a suspension from the England's Football Association, but he could make his first appearance in a friendly next week when an All-Star team of players from Al Nassr and Al Hilal take on Paris Saint-Germain.

"It (his debut) won't be with the Al Nassr jersey. It will be a mix between Al Hilal and Al Nassr," coach Rudi Garcia told L'Equipe (via Reuters).

PSG are set to fly to Doha on Jan. 17 before traveling to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the exhibition, per The Athletic. The French club has two weeks between Ligue 1 matches, providing an opportunity for the team's biggest stars to take part in the friendly.

It could set up a highly anticipated match between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two longtime rivals considered the best of their era. They faced off head-to-head numerous times in El Classico matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona, but this would be the first matchup since 2020.

On Monday, the AFP reported that Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with football club Al Nassr included a World Cup ambassadorial role that would nearly double his salary as Saudi Arabia tries to win the event for 2030 (h/t Yahoo).

On Tuesday, Al Nassr denied the report:

Al Nassr FC would like to clarify that contrary to news reports, Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr does not entail commitments to any World Cup bids.

His main focus is on Al Nassr and to work with his teammates to help the club achieve success.

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 10, 2023

"Ronaldo will be paid more than €200 million [$214 million] for the deal," a source told the French news agency. "He will be an ambassador for the Saudi World Cup 2030 bid for another €200 million."

That source also said that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund—the Public Investment Fund, which also financially backs LIV Golf; owns 80 percent of the English Premier's League's Newcastle United; and holds sponsorships with Formula One, stakes in the world of esports and a partnership with the WWE, among other ties to the sports and entertainment world—was the impetus for Al Nassr to sign a global icon such as Ronaldo.

"[Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his brothers] Naif, Turki and Rakan, the sons of King Salman, are all honorary members of Al Nassr since before their father even became the crown prince," the source said. "They wanted to grant their beloved club supremacy and put it in the international spotlight. The best way was to bring the best player in the world."

Advocacy groups have accused the Saudis of using the PIF as a sportswashing tool in an effort to gloss over the country's history of human-rights abuses. Landing the World Cup would seemingly be in line with that alleged effort and would make Saudi Arabia just the second Arab nation to host the event after Qatar last year.

To date, two official bids for 2030—a joint bid from Spain, Portugal and Ukraine and a joint bid from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile—have been entered. Morocco is also reportedly bidding, though it likely would only be considered if a cross-continent bid from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece falls through.

The 2026 event will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

As for Ronaldo, the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus star will make his debut with his new club during an exhibition match against Paris Saint-Germain on Jan. 19, as Al Nassr manager Rudi Garcia told reporters Monday.

"The only thing I want is for him to enjoy playing football again and smile," Garcia said. "In recent months, between Manchester United, the national team and also at a private level, he has not had easy moments. If he finds the pleasure of playing again, a good goal will be achieved."

Cristiano Ronaldo does not have a clause in his contract allowing him to leave Al-Nassr for Newcastle United next season, according to Mark Ogden of ESPN.

After the Saudi Arabian club announced the superstar's signing last week, Marca reported Ronaldo can go on loan at Newcastle United in 2023-24 if the club qualifies for Champions League. The Magpies, which are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, currently sit in third place in the Premier League, with the top four clubs in the table at the end of the season granted a place in Europe's top club competition.

Sources at the club said this report is "fake," per Ogden.

Ronaldo signed a two-and-half-year deal with Al-Nassr that will pay him $75 million annually. According to Fabrizio Romano, he could make €200 million per year when adding commercial deals.

The 37-year-old had been seeking a move to a Champions League club since the summer transfer window, per ESPN's Rob Dawson. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner competed in the UCL in 19 straight seasons with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, winning the competition five times.

After a move to Manchester United in 2021-22, the club finished sixth in the Premier League and failed to qualify for this year's Champions League.

Ronaldo was unable to find a new home over the summer, leading to a contentious start of the season with Manchester United before the two sides mutually parted ways in November. After scoring 18 Premier League goals last year, the veteran had just one goal in 10 appearances (four starts) in 2022-23.

The move to Al-Nassr offers a fresh start in a new location, although the Newcastle link would make sense. If the club finishes in the top four of the EPL, it will qualify for Champions League for the first time since 2002-03 and could use an experienced goal scorer like Ronaldo. The forward would also likely enjoy a return to England and the opportunity for UCL action.

However, the reports are seemingly untrue, and Ronaldo will be committed to Al-Nassr for the forseeable future.

Sporting KC was reportedly the closest MLS club to signing Cristiano Ronaldo, per multiple reports, before the veteran striker signed with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr on Friday.

Sources can confirm: Sporting KC were the MLS team that came closest to signing Cristiano Ronaldo. Talks ongoing for weeks, it was a real possibility.

Package was very good. Plans were being made to make it happen. SKC had his "discovery rights" (i.e. path to sign him). Wild. https://t.co/MIXxIEPHHY pic.twitter.com/On4bRwasdo

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 31, 2022

This might be the biggest disappointment: Watching Peter Vermes deal with the media circus. I think he would have handled it very well and more people would find out he's a funny guy and not the drill sergeant he looks like on the sidelines.https://t.co/JJowAe0Cin

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 31, 2022

"I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football and feel now that this is the right moment to share my experience in Asia," Ronaldo said on Friday after making the decision to continue his club career in Saudi Arabia.

🗣️ Al-Nassr president Musalli Al-Muammar on signing Cristiano Ronaldo https://t.co/0d4T0wobi7

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 30, 2022

The 37-year-old went scorched earth at Manchester United in an effort to depart the club, going so far as to rip ownership and manager Erik ten Hag in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.

Manchester United responded by terminating his contract.

The original belief was that Ronaldo was seeking a move to a Champions League club. But when no such move materialized, likely because of Ronaldo's waning impact but massive wages, he instead joined Al-Nassr on what are reportedly astronomical wages:

Here’s Cristiano Ronaldo with Al Nassr shirt after contract signed until June 2025 🚨🇵🇹🇸🇦 #Ronaldo

▫️ Agreement valid for two years and half;

▫️ Total salary will be close to €200m per year, but this includes commercial deal.

It’s the biggest salary ever in football. pic.twitter.com/ZnOg8lY6Wb

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022

Ronaldo's salary will be $75m a year. With image rights payments that number will more than double. He will have unprecedented power, right up to sacking the coach should he wish. Al Nassr prepared to become "Cristiano FC" in the words of one source. https://t.co/mf5VheWUPN

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) December 30, 2022

https://twitter.com/LeanderAlphabet/status/1608934389567852544

Cristiano Ronaldo signing for Al-Nassr after being unable to find a Champions League club. European teams declined to pay £80k pw to take Ronaldo last summer when #MUFC explored exit.

He’ll earn lots more in Saudi Arabia but not career finale envisioned.https://t.co/KzRQfLM9OO

— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) December 30, 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed to have lots of offers from big European clubs, yet this is the reality. Done deal https://t.co/yEsnHhzbKz

— Kevin Palmer 💙 (@RealKevinPalmer) December 30, 2022

"I'm thrilled for a new experience in a different league and a different country, the vision that Al-Nassr has is very inspiring," Ronaldo said. "I'm very excited to join my teammates, and to help the team to achieve more success."

It's somewhat hard to imagine that an MLS club could have offered a similar deal to the one Ronaldo received in Saudi Arabia, though a number of older stars have made their way to the MLS in the past, including David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Wayne Rooney, Kaká, Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, among others.

But none are a global icon the likes of Ronaldo, who has the most Instagram followers among individuals in the world. Without question, he would have been the biggest star in the history of MLS, and would have drawn major attention to the league.

Instead, Ronaldo fans from around the world might have to find ways to stream Saudi Pro League matches to keep up with the Portuguese dynamo.

Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a contract with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, the club confirmed Friday.

The agreement is worth $75 million annually over two-and-a-half years, according to Ben Jacobs and James Benge of CBS Sports. Fabrizio Romano added Ronaldo can earn at least $200 million per season through commercial deals with the club.

Here’s Cristiano Ronaldo with Al Nassr shirt after contract signed until June 2025 🚨🇵🇹🇸🇦 #Ronaldo

▫️ Agreement valid for two years and half;

▫️ Total salary will be close to €200m per year, but this includes commercial deal.

It’s the biggest salary ever in football. pic.twitter.com/ZnOg8lY6Wb

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022

Ronaldo's contract with the Riyadh club effectively ends his career at the top level. The Portuguese superstar had reportedly been eyeing a move to a club that plays in the UEFA Champions League, but a deal never materialized.

Ronaldo and Manchester United mutually agreed to part ways in November just before the beginning of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, making him a free agent.

The move came after he heavily criticized the club in a candid interview with Piers Morgan, saying he felt "betrayed" by the way the Red Devils had treated him in his return to Old Trafford. He added that he felt United was trying to force him out.

"I feel betrayed."

EXCLUSIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo tells Piers Morgan he feels like he's being forced out of Manchester United in an explosive interview.

90 Minutes with Ronaldo. Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm on TalkTV.@cristiano | @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/nqp4mcXHB0

— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 13, 2022

Ronaldo returned to Manchester United during the 2021-22 campaign after spending 2018 through 2021 with Serie A side Juventus. He left United in 2009 in a move to La Liga's Real Madrid.

The 37-year-old's return to the Premier League was tumultuous, to say the least. While he scored 24 goals across all competitions during the 2021-22 season, the Red Devils finished sixth in the Premier League and were eliminated from the Champions League in the round of 16.

Manchester United failed to qualify for this season's Champions League, and it's fifth in the Premier League table with a 9-2-4 record.

Ronaldo appeared in 10 Premier League games for the Red Devils this season, making four starts, and had been playing off the bench for Erik ten Hag. With little sign of progress, it became clear Ronaldo wanted out.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner confirmed he was unhappy with the lack of progress at the English side during his interview with Morgan.

"The progress was zero," Ronaldo said. "Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed."

Ronaldo's downfall continued at the World Cup, where he scored just one goal in five matches (three starts) for a Portuguese team that was upset by Morocco in the quarterfinals.

Now at Al Nassr, Ronaldo will look to rejuvenate his career, possibly in hopes of returning to the top level.

Brazilian and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar was among the many prominent footballers to post tributes to the legendary Pelé following the news of his death Thursday. Pelé was 82.

Neymar wrote on Instagram (translation via IG):

Before Pelé, 10 was just a number. I've read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say before Pelé football was just a sport. Pelé has changed it all. He turned football into art, into entertainment. Gave voice to the poor, blacks and mostly: Gave visibility to Brazil. Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He's gone but his magic remains. Pelé is FOREVER!!

Argentine superstar and Neymar's PSG teammate, Lionel Messi—fresh off his World Cup triumph—posted several pictures of Pelé throughout the years, writing on Instagram: "Rest in peace, Pelé."

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo also wrote a tribute to Pelé on Instagram:

My deep condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Edson Arantes do Nascimento. A mere 'goodbye' to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing. An inspiration to so many millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever. The love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared even from distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace King Pelé.

They were among a number of footballers, past and present, to pay their tributes to Pelé on Thursday:

Everything you see any player doing, Pelé did it first. RIP ⚽️🤴🏿 pic.twitter.com/SeW0z1hQTm

— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) December 29, 2022

The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten.
RIP KING 💔👑… pic.twitter.com/F55PrcM2Ud

— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 29, 2022

Rest in peace, Rei @Pele. pic.twitter.com/h9f2ry3O0W

— Johan Cruyff (@JohanCruyff) December 29, 2022

The legend who stood tallest among legends… always had time for everyone!

I had the pleasure of playing for him (charity match) and interviewing him - equally rewarding.

The player, The man, The icon@Pele pic.twitter.com/x763cyrqIF

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) December 29, 2022

Rest in peace idol. Pele was one of my biggest inspirations to play football man. I used to study his goals on Betamax (yes my dad had one) and he was the Innovator of many of the skills we see today. His legacy will live on forever. Thank you King Pele. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gZIlINyyeK

— Daniel Sturridge (@DanielSturridge) December 29, 2022

A giant of the game and the reason so many of us love football. Rest in peace, legend. 👑 @Pele pic.twitter.com/biAlOTnIaT

— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) December 29, 2022

https://twitter.com/janinebeckie/status/1608552696218537984

One of the greatest footballers of all time. The King.

RIP Pele. 🙏🕊️ pic.twitter.com/5mp5ZLL1j1

— Victor Wanyama (@VictorWanyama) December 29, 2022

Pelé's achievements speak for themselves:

• He was the only player in history to win three World Cup titles. 
• He scored 643 goals for Santos during his club career, the most for any player at an individual club until Messi broke the record with Barcelona in 2020. 
• He spent three years at the NASL's New York Cosmos, posting 37 goals and 30 assists during that period while winning league MVP in 1976, helping to put the short-lived league (1968-84) and the club on the map.

He became a global icon in the process and was the original GOAT, though players such as Diego Maradona, Messi and Ronaldo have since made their case. But there is no denying that Pelé is a legend of legends, and a player who the game's current stars admired greatly.

Portugal were eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday in a stunning 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Morocco, and veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo responded to the result in a Facebook post on Sunday.

"I just want you all to know that much has been said, much has been written, much has been speculated, but my dedication to Portugal has not changed, not for a moment," he wrote (via FanNation Futbol). "I was always one fighting for the objective of all and I would never turn my back on my colleagues and my country."

The 37-year-old came off the bench for Portugal's 6-1 round-of-16 win over Switzerland and its loss to Morocco after starting each of the country's three group-stage games.

He scored one goal at the tournament, making him the first player in history to score a goal at five separate World Cups.

"I fought for it," Ronaldo wrote of trying to win a World Cup title. "I fought hard for this dream. In the five appearances I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always by the side of great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave my all. Leave it all out on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream."

Given his age and the fact that Portugal appeared to simply play better for long stretches without him on the pitch, it's fair to question if Ronaldo's international career is winding to a close or if he'll outright call it quits for the national team after Qatar.

There is also uncertainty over his club career after Manchester United terminated his contract ahead of the World Cup following Ronaldo's explosive interview with Piers Morgan. In that interview he blasted the club, the Glazers' ownership and several managers, among others.

It remains to be seen which club will be interested in Ronaldo, a player who is largely limited to being a poacher and an ineffective presser at this point in his career, but one who has become accustomed to large wages.

Reports have suggested that Ronaldo could join Saudi club Al-Nassr on a deal worth €200 million ($210.7 million) per season, though the veteran forward has denied them to this point.

"No, it isn't true," Ronaldo told reporters last week.

So his future, for both club and country, remains in flux.