Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia at the end of last year after leaving Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo is celebrating his 38th birthday today following a tumultuous 12 months on and off the pitch. The veteran is one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game and has won a whole host of trophies throughout his illustrious career.
Ronaldo first entered the limelight after joining Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United as an 18-year-old in 2003. He won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup during his first stint at Old Trafford, while also getting his hands on the first of his five Ballon d’Ors.
After moving to Real Madrid, the forward tasted even more success at the highest level and racked up the goals to help the club win title after title over a nine-year period. And following a three-year stint with Juventus, the ace signed for United for a second time in the summer of 2021.
Ronaldo scored 24 goals during his maiden campaign back at Old Trafford. But things turned sour this season and he had his Red Devils contract terminated last November after telling Piers Morgan he “felt betrayed” by the club. The player signed for Al-Nassr at the end of last year but has struggled to find his form in Saudi Arabia. So what does the future have in store for the Portugal international?
Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia at the end of last year after leaving Manchester United (Image: GETTY)
Retirement plansRonaldo has scored just one goal in three appearances for Al-Nassr and appears to be struggling to hit the heights of previous years. But ahead of his move to the Middle East, the striker told Morgan that he wanted to play football until he was 40 years old.
“I want to play two years more, three years more,” Ronaldo said. “I want to finish [aged] 40. I think 40 will be a good age. But I don’t know, I don’t know the future. Sometimes you plan one thing for your life and, as I told many times, the life is dynamic. And you never know what’s going to happen.”
Cristiano Ronaldo had two spells plying his trade with Manchester United (Image: GETTY)
Al-Nassr U-turn
Ronaldo previously revealed that his time in Europe was over and he had no plans to return to the continent as a player. But just weeks later, Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia suggested the blockbuster star had unfinished business on his home continent and would play there once again before calling time on his career. “He is one of the best players in the world,” the Frenchman said. “He will not finish his career at Al-Nassr – he will return to Europe.”
Ronaldo has gone toe-to-toe with long-term rival Lionel Messi throughout his career in the quest to be considered the greatest player of all time. But the Portuguese ace may feel he is getting left behind, with Messi winning the World Cup with Argentina last year. And Ronaldo could well be seething after his ex-Real Madrid team-mate Sergio Ramos sided with the Argentinian in the debate.
“There was suffering for several years playing against Messi,” Ramos told PSG TV. “I am now enjoying him [as a team-mate at PSG]. He is the best player football has ever produced.”
Lionel Messi sends clear message to Cristiano Ronaldo in GOAT debate after PSG stunner
Lionel Messi continues to dazzle with his goalscoring heroics after his latest PSG strike.
Lionel Messi: The PSG superstar outshining Cristiano Ronaldo (Image: Getty Images/Express Sport)
Lionel Messi continues to light up European football with Paris Saint-Germain after another stunning finish against Toulouse, leading football fans to once again question whether there should be even be a debate to decide the ‘GOAT’. While Cristiano Ronaldo gets to grips with his new club Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the Argentinian star produced a piece of magic to help his side beat Toulouse on Saturday.
Branco van den Broomen had given the visitors a shock lead at the Parc des Princes before Morocco star Achraf Hakimi levelled the score on 38 minutes, with Messi a quiet presence in the first half.
But with the hour mark approaching and PSG locked in a stalemate at 1-1 with their lowly opponents, the 35-year-old stepped up to the plate. The World Cup winner waited on the edge of the box for the ball to come his way and with a short run-up, he placed a sublime effort into then bottom corner from 25 yards to beat goalkeeper Maxime Dupe.
It means the playmaker has now recorded 10 goals and 10 assists for PSG this season already in just 18 appearances in Ligue 1, a total only bettered by his PSG team-mate and close pal Neymar, who has 12 goals and 10 assists.
Lionel Messi: The PSG star lines up the shot (Image: Twitter/BT Sport)
Lionel Messi: The Argentinian coolly curls it into the bottom corner (Image: Twitter/BT Sport)
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is the heavy favourite to land the prize again after his heroics in Qatar to help Argentina end their 36-year wait for a third World Cup triumph. And he reminded fans again why he is now considered to be ahead of Ronaldo in the debate to decide who is the greatest player in football history.
Ronaldo and Messi went toe-to-toe for years at Real Madrid and Barcelona as the two titans of football battled annually to be crowned the greatest. Despite their tense rivalry and occasional clashes on the pitch, the pair have managed to keep an amicable relationship over the years.
But Ronaldo’s gradual decline on the pitch means the pair are no longer on the same level after the Portuguese veteran sealed a lucrative switch to join Al-Nassr in December.
Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese has struggled in Saudi Arabia by his usual standards (Image: Getty)
The 37-year-old, who turns 38 on Sunday, terminated his contract with Manchester United after falling out of favour under Erik ten Hag and penned an eye-watering £175m-a-year contract with the Saudi Pro League outfit.
Many expected Ronaldo to enjoy a goal glut in the Arabian gulf after scoring over 800 goals in his illustrious career. But so far, his move to the Riyadh-based club has not gone quite to plan.
Ronaldo did score impress in his first game for the Saudi All Stars in a friendly against Messi’s PSG, scoring twice in their 5-4 defeat, while Messi also got his name on the scoresheet. But he has notched only once for Al-Nassr in his three appearances so far – from the penalty spot – and has generally looked off the pace for his new club.
With Messi set to chase down his all-time Champions League goalscoring record next, Ronaldo may have to concede defeat in the GOAT debate once and for all if he is surpassed by his friendly foe.
Source: express.co.uk; express.co.uk
