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January 20, 2026
Football’s spotlight followed Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia, and it never dimmed. Since joining Al-Nassr, goals, records, and weekly talking points have stacked up fast. This chapter isn’t a farewell tour — it’s a continuation, measured in numbers, influence, and relentless output...
Football fans worldwide still can't stop talking about Cristiano Ronaldo's jump to Al-Nassr. The Portuguese legend landed at the Saudi club back in January 2023, catching everyone off guard. His arrival turned matches that nobody outside the region watched into global events. Al-Nassr reportedly dropped $200 million a year to bring Ronaldo on board. Sports outlets covered the deal nonstop for weeks. Critics wondered how a 38-year-old would handle such a big change. His first season numbers silenced them fast.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Never surrender!
Ronaldo’s steady scoring draws attention from analysts and bettors who focus on player-based betting markets and statistical evaluation. His goal totals are reflected across various odds formats, including contexts where references such as a 1xBet promo code appear alongside player performance markets. These markets typically center on measurable outputs like goals scored or shots on target rather than broader match results. Ronaldo’s consistency makes his name common in data-driven betting discussions, although outcomes remain variable by nature. Some users maintain tracking spreadsheets to compare shot conversion rates and scoring frequency across competitions. This approach blends football knowledge with structured betting analysis rather than speculative assumptions.
Ronaldo's first year at Al-Nassr proved he can still score consistently. By the end of 2023, he'd scored 54 times across everything he played. That breaks down to 44 for Al-Nassr and 10 wearing Portugal's jersey. This performance challenged early skepticism about his move. He showed up for 55 games in 2023, staying fit the whole time. Al-Nassr pushed for the Saudi Pro League title with him leading the charge. They came in second, but Ronaldo's personal stats jumped off the page.
Check out how Ronaldo's 2023 broke down:
These numbers show he kept producing just like before. His goals-per-game rate looked quite similar to earlier parts of his career.
Ronaldo's arrival flipped how people worldwide view Saudi football. His presence drew attention that the league never saw before. Match attendance jumped significantly in his debut year. Television audiences across Asia and Europe tuned in regularly. Impact on league visibility during Ronaldo's first year:
• Al-Nassr match crowds increased 60%.
• TV viewership grew across Asia and Europe.
• Other star players considered Saudi moves.
• Social media engagement hit record levels.
• League commercial revenue expanded.
The league pulled in top talent like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Riyad Mahrez during 2023. This influx raised competition levels dramatically. Ronaldo's star power opened doors that stayed closed before. His success convinced other players the move made sense. Social media activity exploded whenever Ronaldo took the field. His Instagram posts about Al-Nassr matches get millions of views consistently. This attention translates directly into money for the league. Sponsors pay more when eyes multiply. Broadcast deals grow when audiences expand.
At 39 in 2024, Ronaldo tweaked how he plays to stay effective. His runs off the ball got smarter instead of just faster. Hanging around the penalty box replaced those long sprints down the sideline. This switch saved his legs while keeping goals coming.
Al-Nassr's coaches built game plans around what Ronaldo does best. Quick passes into the box set him up for chances he finished cleanly. Dead-ball situations gave him another way to use his heading skills. The team basically funneled everything through him.
He stuck to tough training schedules even at his age. Word is he puts in more hours than his teammates most days. His commitment to staying in shape explains why he still performs this well.
This season found Ronaldo scoring at his typical rate. Through January 2025, he put away 16 goals in 19 league games. That pace points toward another 30+ goal year. His connection with new teammates looks sharper than before.
The season highlights:
• Scored 16 goals in 19 league matches by January 2025.
• Al-Nassr sits third in Saudi Pro League standings.
• Hat-trick against Al-Hilal in November 2024 stood out.
• Multiple goals in Asian Champions League matches.
• Partnership with new signings improved team flow.
Al-Nassr holds third place halfway through the campaign. Ronaldo's goals matter heavily for their title chase. His experience guides other players when matches get tense. Recent performances prove he delivers when pressure rises.
That three-goal performance against Al-Hilal back in November reminded people what he can do. His Asian Champions League goals show hunger for trophies hasn't faded. These moments confirm he still competes at the highest level.
Away from matches, Ronaldo connects with Saudi culture through different projects. He joins various professional football events. His CR7 brand set up shops in Riyadh and Jeddah during 2024. These business moves show he's thinking long-term about the area.
His family got comfortable living in Saudi Arabia, posting lifestyle stuff online. This personal buy-in stands out compared to some players who treat the league like a quick stop. Ronaldo's settling in looks real, not just about the paycheck.
He contributes through donations to broader sporting and community initiatives within Saudi Arabia. These efforts build respect beyond what he does on game days.
Ronaldo’s Saudi run looks different from how other stars wrapped up their careers. David Beckham’s move to MLS centered heavily on visibility, market growth, and long-term brand positioning in a developing league environment. Lionel Messi’s switch to Inter Miami combined competitive objectives with commercial partnerships and media expansion in North America. In contrast, Ronaldo’s agreement places sustained emphasis on on-field contribution alongside financial terms.
His role at Al-Nassr involves regular starts, tactical responsibility, and output expectations comparable to top-tier competitions. Rather than serving primarily as a symbolic figure, he remains structurally central to match outcomes and season objectives.
The Saudi Pro League has also evolved in parallel with this shift. Increased investment in infrastructure, coaching, and squad depth has raised overall competition levels, reducing gaps between top and mid-table sides. Clubs now approach continental tournaments with clearer ambitions, treating Asian Champions League fixtures as priority targets rather than secondary commitments. Ronaldo’s weekly match demands reflect this environment, where tactical preparation and physical intensity remain high. As a result, perceptions around late-career moves have broadened.
Transfers to leagues outside Europe are increasingly viewed as alternative competitive pathways rather than symbolic finales, influencing how experienced players evaluate career options in their final stages.
• Whats fans and media think
Portuguese and Spanish outlets follow Ronaldo's Saudi career closely. Match write-ups hit major publications after every game. His goal tallies make news across Europe all the time. Saudi fans loved him from the jump. Stadium vibes during Al-Nassr games match what you'd see in Europe. The fired-up support caught lots of people by surprise at first. His popularity there built up over years of Champions League performances.
Some critics still wonder if this move hurts his legacy. Certain folks argue playing outside Europe dings his spot among all-time greats. His fans fire back that his numbers speak for themselves no matter where he plays.
• What Comes Next for Ronaldo
Ronaldo's deal with Al-Nassr goes through 2025, maybe longer. His physical shape hints he could play past 40. Not many players stay this good past 38, making his situation stand out. The big question stays how much longer he'll keep going.
Retirement talk feels too early given how he's playing now. He told people he wants to hit 1,000 career goals. That target sits about 150 goals away at his current speed. Another two or three seasons might get him there.
What happens after playing stays fuzzy, though coaching doesn't look likely. His business stuff grows without needing football. Whatever's next, his Saudi chapter is already locked in its spot in his wild career.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s run at Al-Nassr exceeded many early expectations surrounding his move outside Europe. His scoring output remained at a level comparable to top international competitions, despite the change in league context and advancing age. The transfer significantly increased global attention on Saudi football, drawing new audiences and elevating the league’s international profile.
At the same time, it provided Ronaldo with a competitive environment where performance standards remained high. Assessments of how this period affects his overall legacy vary, often depending on how different leagues are weighed historically. From a sporting perspective, his continued consistency highlights adaptability rather than decline.
Regardless of location, his approach to preparation, match involvement, and output reflects an ongoing commitment to elite professional standards.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on January 21, against Damac, for the Saudi Super League. You can watch Damac vs Al Nassr, Real Madrid vs AS Monaco, Sporting vs PSG, Bomo/Glimt vs Manchester City, Inter Milanvs Arsenal and Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund, all matches provided from our soccer live game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Damac vs Al Nassr kick-off time (21-01-2026):
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 / reasearchgate.net / transfermarkt.com
