Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth and likely final World Cup will be the first for the Portugal great since he left Europe to play in Saudi Arabia
The surprise move in late 2022 shocked many in the soccer world and prompted widespread doubts about whether his form would be affected by facing lower-level competition.
But Ronaldo, who turned 41 in February, has dismissed any notion of a drop in performance going into next month’s showcase event. And, to help make his case, the goals have kept coming, both for Al Nassr and with Portugal.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez said Ronaldo is as hungry as ever and doesn’t see any signs that the star forward has slowed down after moving to Saudi Arabia.
“He keeps performing and he keeps showing his value and he keeps showing that (he) is important for the national team,” Martínez said. “To have that hunger when you’ve won everything in the game is quite remarkable. And that’s without getting away from the fact that to be in the national team you need to be somebody that can help the team now and not with what you’ve done in the past.”
Ronaldo and his longtime rival Lionel Messi are set to reach the milestone of playing in six World Cups. Ronaldo is the all-time leader in appearances (226) and goals (143) for a men’s national team. He is also the only man to have scored in five World Cups.
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“Despite the fact that he’s the captain, though most likely he’s achieved what no different participant in world soccer has achieved, which is the variety of video games for the nationwide group, over 225 appearances, simply with that quantity is a uniqueness about what he brings, however I believe he has the identical calls for as another participant within the nationwide group,” Martínez stated.
Ronaldo made the transfer to Saudi Arabia in the midst of the 2022-23 season after his newest stint with Manchester United, rejecting different gives to take up a reported wage of $200 million a 12 months and “give a distinct imaginative and prescient of this nation and soccer.” Ronaldo stated on the time his work in Europe was performed and he was prepared for a “new problem.”
Criticism instantly started to pour in, with many followers and pundits not liking what seemed to be his selection of taking the large Saudi cash as a substitute of constant his profession in elite soccer. Some stated he was nearly retiring from aggressive soccer.
Ronaldo has continuously praised the Saudi league, although, saying it’s higher than each the French and the Portuguese leagues. He stated those that criticize him ought to go there and attempt to compete in temperatures of as much as 40 levels Celsius (104 F) and hold performing like he has.
“I don’t want to talk as a result of they’ll say no matter they need, however the numbers don’t lie,” Ronaldo stated in an interview with Piers Morgan final 12 months. “They’ve by no means been right here, they’ve by no means performed right here … For me it’s (simpler) to attain in Spain than rating in Saudi (league).”
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr runs with the ball whereas below stress from Ruben Neves of Al Hilal throughout the Saudi Professional League match between Al Nassr and Al Hilal. (Photograph by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Photographs)
Ronaldo’s transfer away from Europe didn’t seem to have an effect on his performances on the worldwide stage with Portugal. He has stored taking part in at a excessive degree since then, scoring 25 objectives in his final 30 video games with the nationwide group.
Ronaldo went scoreless in 5 European Championship video games in 2024 as Portugal reached the quarterfinals. In 2025, about two and a half years after he began taking part in in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo helped Portugal win the Nations League title, with considered one of his eight objectives within the competitors coming within the ultimate in opposition to Spain.
Ronaldo has maintained a top-notch bodily situation regardless of simply having turned 41. He was hindered by a hamstring harm sustained in late February however recovered shortly. On Might 7, he was scoring his one centesimal Saudi Professional League objective in his a hundred and fifth league appearances for Al Nassr, which has an opportunity to win its first league title since 2019.
“All of the efforts (Cristiano) makes and what he does on the pitch, which he has skilled greater than all of us collectively, which he places in on daily basis and each sport, is exclusive,” João Félix, Ronaldo’s teammate with each Al Nassr and Portugal, informed the Saudi Professional League earlier this 12 months. “And that we see him, at 40 years outdated, doing what he does, solely offers us extra motivation.”
Ronaldo scored 14 objectives in 16 matches in his debut season in Saudi Arabia in 2022-23. In his first full season, he netted 35 objectives in 31 video games, setting a brand new scoring document within the league. Al Nassr received its first Arab Membership Champions Cup in 2023 because of a pair of objectives by Ronaldo within the ultimate.
Within the 2024-25 season, Ronaldo scored 25 objectives in 30 matches, and up to now this season he has discovered the online 26 occasions in 29 appearances. He was the league’s prime scorer in each of his first two full seasons, and now could be 5 objectives shy of Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney.
Ronaldo has stated this can positively be his final try at profitable the World Cup, however it stays unclear for the way lengthy he’ll proceed taking part in.
His coach with Portugal is aware of higher to not make any guesses.
“It’s tough for me to say, as a result of clearly I’ve realized in a short time to not predict the longer term with Cristiano, simply because he’s acquired this elite mind about being one of the best that he may be at this time,” Martínez stated. “And I’m pondering should you ask him, he’ll inform you a similar. He doesn’t make plans.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
