Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi: A tale of goals, unfulfilled glory
When Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January 2023, the football world watched in awe as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner embarked on a new chapter in the Saudi Pro League (SPL). At 40 years old, with a contract reportedly worth €200 million annually, Ronaldo brought global attention to a league aiming to elevate its status. As his two-and-a-half-year stint nears its potential end, with his contract expiring in June 30, 2025, this piece is set to evaluate whether Ronaldo’s spell in the SPL has been a success, exploring his individual brilliance, team achievements, and broader impact on Saudi football.
Ronaldo individual records
Ronaldo’s on-pitch numbers is a proof of unrelenting excellence. In the 2023/24 season, his first full campaign with Al-Nassr, he shattered the SPL record for most goals in a single season, netting 35 in 31 matches, surpassing Abderrazak Hamdallah’s previous mark of 34. This earned him the Golden Boot and a place in history as the first player to be top scorer in four different leagues (England, Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia). By May 2025, in the 2024/25 season, Ronaldo has added another 25 goals in 30 SPL appearances, alongside 3 assists, bringing his total tally to 35 goals across 41 games in all competitions.
The impact of Ronaldo is beyond numbers and statistics. His work rate and leadership have set a new standard in the SPL. His four-goal haul against Al-Wehda in February 2024, which included his 500th career league goal, showcased his enduring hunger. Sports enthusiasts and club executives hailed him as a “history-maker,” earning him the Best Middle East Player of 2024 at the Globe Soccer Awards. Individually, Ronaldo’s spell is a resounding success, affirming his claim that the 2023/24 season was “one of the best” of his career.
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Al-Nassr trophy drought and team struggles
Yet, for a player like Cristiano Ronaldo who is known for trophies, his time at Al-Nassr has been marred by a lack of major team success. Despite his 74 goals in 83 games since joining, Al-Nassr has only one title to show, the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, where Ronaldo scored both goals in a 2-1 final win over Al-Hilal. In the SPL, Al-Nassr finished second in both 2023/24 and 2024/25, trailing Al-Hilal, who claimed a record-extending 19th title last season. The 2024/25 campaign saw Al-Nassr fade early from the title race, with Ronaldo’s hopes pinned on the AFC Champions League, only to get defeated in the semifinals to Kawasaki Frontale.
Al-Nassr also lost the Saudi Super Cup final to Al-Hilal in 2024/25, despite Ronaldo scoring in both the semifinal and final, and fell in the 2024 King Cup final to Al-Hilal in a 5-4 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Critics on social media have labeled Ronaldo the “worst signing of all time” for his trophy haul, a harsh critique given his individual effort. For a player who has won five Champions Leagues and seven league titles across Europe, this drought is heavy blow.
Ronaldo’s broader impact in Saudi football
Beyond Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s influence on the SPL is undeniable. His transfer, as noted by the BBC, sparked a “revolution” in Asian football, attracting high-profile players like Neymar, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante for the 2023/24 season. The SPL’s visibility soared, with global viewership doubling in 2024. Ronaldo’s €200 million salary, twice that of Neymar and Benzema, showed Saudi Arabia’s ambition to rival Europe’s top leagues, which he took as a personal mission.
His off-field impact is equally significant. Ronaldo’s 1 billion social media followers have amplified the SPL’s brand, with Al-Nassr’s Instagram growing by 15 million followers since his arrival. Sponsorship deals, like the league’s Roshn partnership, have surged, and youth academies report improved enrollment, inspired by Ronaldo’s presence.
Was Ronaldo’s time in Saudi a success or shortfall?
Evaluating Ronaldo’s SPL spell as a success depends on perspective. Individually, it’s a triumph; 60 league goals in two full seasons, a record-breaking 2023/24, and a continued goal-scoring rate that defies age. His 2024/25 tally of 25 SPL goals in 30 games, despite turning 40, proves his physical and mental resilience. However, team success has been the instrument of measuring career success, Ronaldo himself prioritizes titles. By this measure, his spell falls short, with only one minor trophy against a backdrop of near-misses.
The broader impact, however, tips the scales. Ronaldo has elevated the SPL’s global profile, inspired a wave of talent, and set a standard for professionalism. His failure to win the league may reflect club issues, Al-Nassr’s tactical rigidity or inconsistent management, and Al-Hilal’s dominance rather than his own shortcomings. Fan sentiment on social media is mixed: some celebrate his legacy, while others lament the lack of silverware.
Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League journey is an irony of individual brilliance and collective frustration. He’s rewritten record books, brought global attention to the SPL, and remained a goal-scoring phenomenon at 40, yet the major trophies he craves remain elusive. As his contract nears its end, with reports of him closing the chapter, Ronaldo’s spell can be deemed a qualified success, both individually and for the league, but incomplete for Al-Nassr. Whether he stays to chase that elusive SPL title or moves on, Ronaldo’s chapter in the Saudi Pro League has already left an indelible mark on Saudi football’s history.
