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January 5, 2026
Ronaldo arrived in Dubai and the evening tilted in his direction. At "Atlantis The Royal", awards were handed out, speeches were made, but the room kept drifting back to one figure. At 40, Ronaldo isn’t revisiting past glory, he’s still writing the present, and doing it loudly...
There is only one person who can walk into a room and change the entire atmosphere with just his sheer presence. Of course, this is none other than the GOAT himself, Ronaldo, and this is exactly what happened at the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai this past weekend. The awards show saw multiple sportsmen receive accolades, including the footballer, but it doesn't change the fact that he was the centre of attention, the focal point. Not only did this award further boost Ronaldo's status as one of the most prominent figures in the industry, but it also silenced those who thought Al-Nassr was his retirement.
Cristiano Ronaldo - All goals scored in 2025
It's not just his impeccable performance that has sent ripples across the betting world, but also his pledge to hit 1000 goals. As a result, fans have been looking forward to the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot, which, in turn, has tightened the players' odds significantly. Specifically, this development is indicative of the fact that Ronaldo's "longevity" is more than just a buzzword, and it can be seen in the numbers.
For one, Portugal's betting odds to win the 2026 World Cup stand at +1000, while Ronaldo's odds for top goalscorer are +1800. It should come as no surprise that fans are flocking towards sportsbooks accepting credit cards (among other payment options) to place their bets. In fact, those offering the best odds and market coverage are going to play a vital role in upcoming matches, especially following the most recent developments surrounding the footballer.
One instance of this is the increase in prop bets for Ronaldo following through on his 1000-goal pledge. There is speculation that the player could reach this mark by 2027, which has naturally seen massive sharp money action. Even oddmakers have Portugal as a top-three favourite, banking on CR7's X-factor abilities when motivated.
Ronaldo took home the Middle East Player of the Year title, and it is nothing less than well-deserved. The iconic player received this award alongside sports powerhouses like Paul Pogba and Novak Djokovic. Although all these stars deserve their awards, it was Ronaldo who caught media attention, with the 40-year-old's presence dominating news reports and social media.
Fans have (rightfully so) gone wild celebrating how this is Ronaldo's third consecutive win, further highlighting his legendary career. Two contributing factors have come into play with this award, with the first being his form in the Saudi Pro League. Naturally, he dominated the field in each game he appeared in. In the span of 88 appearances, the icon managed to score a total of 86 goals while playing for Al Nassr FC in the Saudi Pro League.
This, of course, is no easy feat, and it is to be expected that Ronaldo would be the one to achieve this. Across 126 games while playing for this new team, the star proved his prowess with a total of 113 goals, and this is without mentioning his milestone in Hong Kong against Al Ahli. This is where he scored his 100th goal for the Riyadh-based team, and this is without mentioning his 40 goals since February that earned him the award.
One major highlight of the award ceremony was when Ronaldo took to the stage alongside tennis legend Novak Djokovic. Specifically, he presented Djokovic with the first-ever Globe Sports Award, a viral moment showing two absolute icons in their respective sports in a heart-warming moment.
This moment shook fans for a number of reasons, with the first related to the theme of the longevity of the elite. Many do not realise just how prominent this meeting is, as both athletes were born in the 1980s, and both still dominate in their respective sports. When you think of tennis, you think of Djokovic, and when you think of soccer, who else but Ronaldo comes to mind?
Beyond this, it is a moment of mutual respect being shared between prominent sportsmen. Although there is no verbal exchange that can be heard, it is two GOATs recognising the other's work ethic, insane skill, and prowess on the court/field. In fact, it could be argued that this moment of recognition between the two parties speaks to a deeper philosophy in the sporting world. Perhaps the key to staying on top is acknowledging just how hard each player needs to work to get there, regardless of the sport type.
After receiving his award on Sunday, Ronaldo decided to share a few words with the world in a speech that sparked excitement amongst the sports world. There was one specific thing that stood out in his speech, and that was his promise to meet his 1000-goal milestone. Up to this point, Ronaldo stands on 956 goals (this is inclusive of the two goals scored against Al Akhdoud), meaning he has 44 goals left to score.
When taking into consideration that the player has managed to score over 40 goals since February 2025, this does not seem an impossible feat at all. Ronaldo voiced that while it is difficult for him to keep playing, his passion and motivation still remain at an all-time high. The icon expressed his love for football and his desire to keep pushing forward and achieving his goals, which include trophies and hitting that 1000 marker.
Ultimately, (and CR7 acknowledged as much), this is all dependent on whether there are no injuries in the foreseeable future. While motivation and passion are great driving forces, the player is getting older, and this is a harsh reality of the industry that needs to be taken into account. However, when has that ever stopped Ronaldo from achieving the impossible?
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on January 8, against Al Quadisiya, for the Saudi Super League. You can watch Al Nassr vs Al Quadisiya, West Ham vs Nottingham Forest, Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao, Burnley vs Manchester United, Fulham vs Chelsea and Manchester City vs Brighton, all matches provided from our soccer live game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Nassr vs Al Quadisiya kick-off time (08-01-2026):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 01:30
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 23:00
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+3: 20:30
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 18:30
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 17:30
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 14:30
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 13:30
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 10:30
Sources: ronaldo7.net / olympics.com / gulfnews.com
