 |
|
September 30, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career has spanned two decades, marked by defining moments in England, Spain, Italy, and now Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese superstar has been chasing records and new challenges ever since he kicked off his professional careeer...
At Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo grew from a promising teenager into a Ballon d’Or winner; at Real Madrid, he became the club’s all-time top scorer; in Italy, he added another league title with Juventus. Today, in Riyadh, he leads Al Nassr and continues to draw global attention even among live casino fans, who can place a bet or two, because of how famous Ronaldo is. With reports suggesting he will extend his contract until 2026, fans wonder how many more milestones he can add before retirement.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Starboy
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first spell at Manchester United, from 2003 to 2009, was the period that turned him from a flashy teenager into one of the best players in the world. At first, he was known more for stepovers and tricks than for the result-changing moments, but under Sir Alex Ferguson, he matured quickly. By 2008, he was the star of the team. The Champions League final against Chelsea summed it up. On a wet, tense night, Ronaldo scored a towering header to give United the lead. He later missed his penalty in the shootout, but his overall display was vital, and that season ended with him lifting the Ballon d’Or.
Another memory came a year later in the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal. With United already leading on aggregate, Ronaldo smashed in a free kick from about 40 yards. It was the type of outrageous goal only he would even attempt, and it silenced the Emirates. By the end of his first stint, he had 145 goals in 346 appearances, three Premier League titles, and a reputation as a big-game player.
When he returned in 2021, at 36, many doubted he could still deliver. But he scored twice on his second debut against Newcastle, sending Old Trafford into celebration, and kept producing decisive goals in Europe. His last-minute header against Atalanta reminded all of us – Ronaldo could still change games.
Ronaldo's Al-Nassr career demonstrates he is far from finished. Clearly, Saudi Arabia took the risky step of signing a well-known player to attract people’s attention to their league, which otherwise would have struggled to compete with its European and American counterparts.
Ronaldo did not waste much time demonstrating his high level of play, as his first goal for his new team came in late winter of 2023, when he converted a successful 90th-minute penalty against Al Fateh, securing a 2-2 draw. In just his third match for Al Nassr, Ronaldo scored four goals in a 4-0 victory against Al Wehda – his first hat-trick in his new role.
By the end of the summer of 2023, Ronaldo led Al Nassr to victory in the Arab Club Champions Cup. He scored six goals in the tournament, including the final against Al Hilal.
Even longtime fans were surprised by the results of the spring of 2024, when Ronaldo scored two consecutive hat-tricks. The first against Al Tai and the second against Abha. He had not had such a streak since 2015. Towards the end of that season, the athlete also managed to win the match against Al Ain, bringing the overall score to 5-1. His current retirement date is 2027, but it does not mean he cannot sign a new deal in the future. Here is the list of all moments that are worth to learn and rewatching:
First goal. February 2023 vs Al Fateh (penalty, 2–2).
First hat-trick. February 2023 vs Al Wehda (4 goals, 4–0).
First trophy. August 2023, Arab Club Champions Cup (6 goals, top scorer).
AFC Champions League Elite 2023–24. 10 goals in 12 games, key goals against Al Duhail and Al Fayha.
Consecutive hat-tricks. April 2024 vs Al Tai (5–0) & Abha (8–0).
King’s Cup semi-final brace. May 2024 vs Al Khaleej (3–1).
AFC Champions League Elite 2024–25. 5–1 win vs Al Ain.
What makes this run remarkable isn’t just the numbers. It’s the ripple effect. Without Ronaldo, would players like Benzema, Neymar, or Mané have come to Saudi Arabia? Hard to say. Watching him now is surreal: one moment you recall nights at Old Trafford, the next he’s celebrating in Riyadh. He may not match his European trophy haul, but he changed the league significantly.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on October 1, against Al Zawraa, for the the Champions League Two. You can watch Al Zawraa vs Al Nassr, Kairat vs Real Madrid, Galatasaray vs Liverpool, Chelsea vs Benfica, Bodo vs Tottenham and Inter vs Slavia Praha, all matches provided from our stream live game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Zawraa vs Al Nassr kick-off time (01-10-2025):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 02:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 23:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 21:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 20:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 19:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 16:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 15:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 12:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / skysports.com / reuters.com
