Giavanna Torchio '25
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese professional football player, recently signed with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr with a two-and-a-half-year contract, earning an estimated $200 million a year with Al Nassr, making him the world’s highest-paid soccer player.
Ronaldo will be leading the AI Nassr team as captain. He recently played for the first time in Saudi Arabia for his Saudi Pro League debut against Ettifaq. Despite failing to score, he led his new team to victory, 1-0. The long-awaited match had the stadium packed to the brim, at its capacity of 25,000 people, not to mention AI Nassar shirts with Ronaldo's name sold out quickly. An official club store was reported to be selling about 400 shirts a day.
On Thursday, January 19, AI Nassar played an exhibition game against Paris Saint-Germain, featuring Lionel Messi, which generated over 2 million ticket requests.
Moving to Saudi Arabia has been a big change for Ronaldo from his previous European lifestyle. A law stands there that prevents unmarried couples from living together. However, Ronaldo was planning on moving in with his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez. It's been reported that local authorities have said they will simply “turn a blind eye” despite the existing law.
Nonetheless, Ronaldo has been accepted by most in the soccer community in Saudi Arabia and was welcomed by thousands of fans during his official unveiling where he was accompanied by his girlfriend.
Although Ronaldo's contract ends in 2025, when he will have turned 40, Al Nassr is convinced that he will end his career with the Saudi Pro League. Al Nassr has also not ruled out extending Ronaldo's contract if he wants to continue his playing career.
"Obviously Cristiano Ronaldo is asking for the ball and we have to give him the ball because he's the player who can make the difference,” said manager Rudi Garcia.
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