Cristiano Ronaldo missed the match between Persepolis and Al-Nassr, but his influence on Saudi football remains undeniable. Two years after leaving Europe, he transformed from being written off to rewriting football history.
Many people doubted Ronaldo’s decision to move to Saudi Arabia, especially after his controversial exit from Manchester United. However, he wasted no time proving his critics wrong.
He made his Al-Nassr debut in January 2023, scoring in his second game and then netting four goals against Al Wehda. Fast forward, and Ronaldo holds the record as the Saudi Pro League’s all-time single-season top scorer with 35 goals. He became the first player to lead the scoring charts in four different leagues and the face of a regional football revolution.
Two years after a messy split with Manchester United and with no serious offers from European clubs, critics claimed Ronaldo’s career was fading. Instead, he silenced them by lighting up Saudi Arabia, scoring 54 goals in 2023—the most in any top league—and leading Al-Nassr to Arab Club Champions Cup victory.
His impact has extended beyond the field. Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia is believed to have helped attract other global stars, such as Mohamed Salah, to a league once considered an afterthought. Among the current stars in the Roshn Saudi League is Ronaldo’s former teammate, Karim Benzema, who now plays for Al-Ittihad.
At 40, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down. Despite missing the Persepolis vs Al-Nassr clash, he remains football’s most talked-about player. Earlier this month, Ronaldo celebrated his 40th birthday and marked the occasion by scoring his first goal as a 40-year-old.
Since Ronaldo’s arrival, Saudi football has changed significantly, regardless of whether he is admired or criticized.
