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On 30 December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Al‑Nassr. The football world laughed. They called it a “retirement league.” For anyone following Sportsphere24 Updates, what happened next shocked everyone. Ronaldo did not retire. He built a league. He turned the Saudi Pro League into a global destination, attracted dozens of world‑class players and proved that at 38, 39, 40 and beyond, he still had goals to score and trophies to win.
If you have not yet read our main Cristiano Ronaldo – The Complete Documentary, you can find it here. This sub‑article focuses exclusively on Ronaldo’s Al‑Nassr era – the goals, the impact and the lasting legacy on Saudi Arabian football.
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The Move: Why Ronaldo Chose Al‑Nassr
The First Season: 40 Goals and an Arab Cup
The 2025‑26 Season: 900th Career Goal
How Ronaldo Changed the Saudi Pro League
The Stars Who Followed Him
Best Performing Sites on Ronaldo’s Saudi Move
FAQ: Ronaldo’s Al‑Nassr Era
Official Al‑Nassr & CR7 Merchandise
The Move: Why Ronaldo Chose Al‑Nassr {#why-al-nassr}
After his Manchester United contract was terminated in November 2022, Ronaldo was a free agent. He received offers from Europe (Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Chelsea) and the Middle East.
The Al‑Nassr offer:
€200 million per year – the richest contract in sports history
2.5‑year deal (later extended to 2027)
Ambassadorial role for Saudi Arabia’s joint World Cup bid (with Egypt and Greece)
The announcement: On 30 December 2022 – his 38th birthday – Ronaldo posted on Instagram: “I am excited for a new experience in a different league. Al‑Nassr’s vision is very inspiring.”
For Sportsphere24 Updates, this was not a retirement. It was a business decision, a lifestyle choice and a calculated move to become the face of a nation’s sporting ambition.
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The First Season: 40 Goals and an Arab Cup {#first-season-al-nassr}
Ronaldo arrived in January 2023. He scored on his debut – a 90th‑minute penalty to draw against Al‑Ettifaq.
His first full season (2023‑24):
| Competition | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Pro League | 32 | 35 | 11 |
| King’s Cup | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Arab Club Champions Cup | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 43 | 40 | 14 |
Trophy: Al‑Nassr won the Arab Club Champions Cup – Ronaldo’s first trophy in Saudi Arabia. He scored twice in the final against Al‑Hilal.
For Sportsphere24 Updates, the critics were silenced. 40 goals at 39 years old. He had not retired. He had simply changed continents.
π Shop the Al‑Nassr 2023‑24 champions jersey
The 2025‑26 Season: 900th Career Goal {#900th-goal}
On 15 March 2026, Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal – a tap‑in from close range against Al‑Shabab. The stadium erupted. His teammates carried him off the pitch.
The stats at the milestone:
| Club | Goals |
|---|---|
| Sporting Lisbon | 5 |
| Manchester United (first spell) | 118 |
| Real Madrid | 450 |
| Juventus | 101 |
| Manchester United (second spell) | 30 |
| Al‑Nassr | 80+ |
| Portugal | 128 |
| Total | 900+ |
For Sportsphere24 Updates, 900 goals is a number that may never be reached again. PelΓ©, RomΓ‘rio and Messi are all below 800. Ronaldo stands alone.
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How Ronaldo Changed the Saudi Pro League {#changed-saudi-league}
Before Ronaldo, the Saudi Pro League was a domestic competition with little global interest. After Ronaldo, it became a destination.
Key changes:
TV deals: Global broadcast rights sold to 130 countries (up from 15 pre‑2023)
Attendance: Average attendance increased by 300%
Social media: The league’s Instagram following grew from 200,000 to 15 million
Player influx: Dozens of stars followed (see below)
For Sportsphere24 Updates, Ronaldo’s impact off the pitch was even greater than his impact on it. He turned the Saudi Pro League into a top‑10 league in the world.
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The Stars Who Followed Him {#followed-stars}
Ronaldo’s move opened the floodgates:
| Player | Club | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Karim Benzema | Al‑Ittihad | 2023 |
| N’Golo KantΓ© | Al‑Ittihad | 2023 |
| Sadio ManΓ© | Al‑Nassr | 2024 |
| Riyad Mahrez | Al‑Ahli | 2024 |
| Roberto Firmino | Al‑Ahli | 2024 |
| Kalidou Koulibaly | Al‑Hilal | 2024 |
| Ruben Neves | Al‑Hilal | 2024 |
| Sergej MilinkoviΔ‑SaviΔ | Al‑Hilal | 2024 |
For Sportsphere24 Updates, Ronaldo was the catalyst. Without him, many of these players would not have considered Saudi Arabia. He legitimised the league.
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Best Performing Sites on Ronaldo’s Saudi Move {#best-performing-sites-saudi}
| Site Name | Why It Ranks for This Topic | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Al‑Nassr Official | Club announcements, jersey sales, match reports | https://www.alnassr.sa |
| BBC Sport | “Ronaldo’s Saudi move: Two years on” documentary | https://www.bbc.com/sport/ronaldo-saudi |
| The Athletic | Financial breakdown of the €200m contract | https://theathletic.com/ronaldo-saudi |
| Sky Sports | Saudi Pro League TV deal analysis | https://www.skysports.com/saudi-league |
| ESPN | “How Ronaldo changed Saudi football” long‑form | https://www.espn.com/ronaldo-saudi-legacy |
❓ FAQ: Ronaldo’s Al‑Nassr Era {#faq-al-nassr}
1. How many goals has Ronaldo scored for Al‑Nassr?
As of May 2026, 80+ goals in 90+ games.
2. Has he won the Saudi Pro League?
Not yet. Al‑Hilal have dominated, winning three straight titles from 2023‑2026. Ronaldo’s best finish was 2nd in 2024.
3. How much does he earn?
€200 million per year – including salary, image rights and ambassadorial fees.
4. Will he finish his career at Al‑Nassr?
His contract runs until 2027. He has hinted that he may retire there.
5. Where can I watch Ronaldo’s Saudi matches?
The Saudi Pro League is broadcast on SSC (Middle East), DAZN (Europe) and ESPN+ (USA). Subscribe to Sportsphere24 Updates on YouTube for highlights.
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