Christiano Ronaldo has mesmerized fans and tormented opponents for years. The player has become one of the most recognizable faces in all of sports, as his skill, flair, and charisma have helped to catapult him to fame far beyond the pitch. This has helped to make him a king among the football world.
With the World Cup playing out in Qatar, the superstar finds himself at the center of the sports world. He has already made history – on this page, soccer fans can see that he has given his native Portugal fair odds to win the title. Now, the question is what will the superstar do, once the World Cup is over?
Making History
The 2022 World Cup has been a historic one for Ronaldo. His goal against Ghana in the opening contest for Portugal gave him goals in five different World Cup events. The Portuguese star became the first player in World Cup history to achieve the mark. Ronaldo had previously scored in the 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 cups.
It is not surprising to see him so successful, even at the age of 37. Ronaldo has long established himself as one of the dominant players on the planet. He broke in in 2001 with the Portuguese U15 team and has represented Portugal at world events in each of the last 22 years.
In 2002, Ronaldo signed with Sporting CP B in the Segunda Divisao and played two seasons with the club before joining Manchester United in the English Premier League. He spent six years there, playing in 196 matches where he scored 84 goals. In 2009, Ronaldo moved on to Real Madrid where he played for nine seasons, scoring 311 goals in 292 contests. In 2018, he joined Juventus for four seasons before returning to Manchester United in 2021-22, where he has played the last two seasons, scoring 19 goals and 40 games.
In 951 matches, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 701 goals. He has truly proven himself to be one of the greatest football players to ever don a uniform. The question now is, at age 37, what will the superstar do once the World Cup is over?
A Record Deal
That question was answered recently when it was disclosed that Ronaldo was leaving Manchester United to join Al Nassr. The superstar was offered a record $225 million contract that will give him the opportunity to play for the club into his early 40s. Ronaldo will earn $75 million in each year of the contract.
This was a surprising turn of events for the superstar, who scored 145 career goals in 346 appearances with the team. However, his relationship soured with the club, as Ronaldo provided scathing commentary on his relationship with Manchester United just prior to the World Cup beginning.
In the interview, Ronaldo explained that he felt “betrayed” by the team. “I don’t care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn’t want me here, not only this year but last season, too.” Ronaldo explained that his relationship had reached a critical mass as he started just one of the six games leading up to the interview.
With the Glazer family selling Manchester United and the team dissatisfied with his relationship with the manager of the team, the club found it necessary to make the move. In a statement provided by Man U, they explained, “Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”
A Step in the Right Direction?
This is a bold move for Ronaldo. Many see this as nothing more than an attempt by an aging player to chase the biggest contract available, but Al Nassr is one of the most successful franchises in all of Asian soccer. They have won nine league titles and the move strengthened their team by hurting Al Hital, who was also believed to be in negotiations to acquire Ronaldo.
The superstar is a record-setting goal scorer, and he instantly brings additional credibility to Al Nassr. The merchandise sales alone should propel the club to new heights in terms of financial gain, and Ronaldo adds a passion and level of experience that few in the world can match. While it is likely that the contract played a role in the footballer choosing to play in Saudi Arabia, one cannot ignore that his early performance in the World Cup demonstrates that his skill is still at an elite level.
However, for now, Ronaldo helps to take his team to the top of the football world. Portugal earned a 3-2 victory in their first match and will take on Uruguay on Monday. The club closes out the first round with the contest against South Korea on December 2. No doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to lead his country to the international title, so the big contract will wait as he hopes to add that history to his impressive career.
See More:
- Man United to replace Ronaldo in January at Old Trafford
- Manchester United terminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract
