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June 10, 2025
When Ronaldo announced he was going to sign for Al Nassr in the end of 2022, the shockwaves were felt in every corner of the world. The Portuguese star expectedly brought a lot of attention to the Saudi club and the day he leaves Al Nassr, the impact will certainly be felt as well...
When Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr in December 2022, the football world paused for a second. Not because of where he went, but because of what followed. A Saudi club, barely known outside its region, suddenly became one of the most talked-about names in global football. For the first time, fans across Europe, South America, and Asia were checking scores from a league they had never watched. That kind of shift does not happen often. Ronaldo’s arrival brought in viewership, investors, sponsors, and endless discussion. His presence turned the Saudi Pro League into something marketable, both on television and behind the scenes. If he decided to walk away tomorrow, the drop would be sharp. Not only for Al Nassr, but for the league’s wider visibility.
Cristiano Ronaldo - All 99 goals for Al Nassr between 2023 and 2025
One of the most overlooked shifts happened online. Bookmakers noticed the Ronaldo effect right away. Markets that had been ignored suddenly became hot. There were odds for goals, passes, corners, and match minutes. Bettors were not just backing results. They were watching Ronaldo’s movement, his finishing, and even how many free kicks he would take.
Traffic came from the usual places, but also from areas outside regulated betting networks. Offshore sites gained new users, especially non-GamStop betting sites. These platforms are not part of the UK self-exclusion scheme, which gives them freedom to offer wider markets and deeper match coverage. They quickly became a hub for Ronaldo fans who wanted more options than what mainstream sites allowed.
These platforms followed where the attention went. With Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, they added more Pro League games. If he left, those extra fixtures would likely disappear. Bettors would turn back to the leagues they already knew, and the temporary spotlight on Al Nassr would fade.
Ronaldo’s effect on attendance has followed him across every country he has played in. From Old Trafford to the Bernabéu, from Turin to Riyadh, he has always pulled crowds. Not just local fans, but international visitors who booked flights and hotel rooms just to see him play live.
Since joining Al Nassr, stadiums have reached capacity more often. Smaller clubs hosting Al Nassr saw spikes in ticket sales. For many, it was the biggest match they would host all season. The fans came for Ronaldo. Without him, they will not come back in the same numbers.
Matchday energy would change. The noise would drop, and media crews would downsize. Ronaldo brings noise wherever he goes. Without him, that sound stops.
It took only a few hours for the impact to show. Al Nassr’s social media accounts exploded. In less than a week, their Instagram gained more followers than most clubs in Europe’s top five leagues. Shirt sales went up. Match highlights received millions of views.
Stadiums filled. Even away games became headline fixtures. Fans wanted to see Ronaldo. They did not care where he played. His arrival brought that effect with him, just as it had done in Italy and Spain. The club, once known for its domestic success, became something else entirely. It turned into a destination.
Ronaldo’s commercial value is impossible to ignore. He is not just a player; he is a brand. That brand brought new sponsors into the Saudi market. Deals that had nothing to do with Saudi football before were suddenly on the table. Al Nassr got international exposure. The league became attractive for advertisers looking to expand.
His departure would reset expectations. Brands that signed deals with Ronaldo in mind would have to re-evaluate. Some might stay, but others would not. Without his name and face, the interest softens. The club would still have value, but not at the level created by Ronaldo’s reach.
The Saudi Pro League has clear goals. It wants to grow, draw global talent, and become part of the football conversation worldwide. Ronaldo’s arrival helped with that. He gave the league credibility at a time when it needed a figure to push the project forward.
Since his move, other players have followed. Benzema, Neymar, and Kante joined the wave. Still, Ronaldo remains the most visible face of the shift. His media presence, his record, and his personality make him more than just a squad member. He is the symbol of the league’s ambition.
If he left, the league would not fall apart. It would still move forward, but the pace would slow. The buzz would settle. The average viewer would not keep tuning in at the same rate. Some broadcasters would pull back. Headlines would start looking elsewhere.
Ronaldo gives the league something it cannot buy: attention. Without him, it goes looking for a new face to carry the weight.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on September 21, against Jeddah Club, for the King's Cup. You can watch Jeddah Club vs Al Nassr, Paris-Saint Germain vs Atletico, Argentina vs Colombia, England vs Senegal, Brazil vs Paraguay and USA vs Switzerland, all matches provided from our sports live game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Jeddah Club vs Al Nassr kick-off time (21-09-2025):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 03:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 00:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 22:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 21:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 20:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 17:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 16:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 13:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / espn.com / bbc.com
