Cristiano Ronaldo may have reached the end of his chapter with Al-Nassr, as the football legend dropped a major hint about his future shortly after the conclusion of the Saudi Pro League.
In a cryptic social media post on Monday, the 40-year-old shared a reflective message: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all,” along with an image of himself in Al-Nassr colours. The post has sparked intense speculation about a possible move away from the Riyadh-based club.
Ronaldo’s message came just hours after Al-Nassr’s domestic campaign wrapped up. While the Portuguese star ended the season as the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer with 24 goals, his efforts weren’t enough to secure silverware for the club.
Al-Nassr finished third in the standings after a dramatic turn of events, and their campaign in the Asian Champions League also ended in disappointment, with a semi-final exit at the hands of Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.
Adding to the late-season drama, the Saudi Football Federation overturned Al-Nassr’s March defeat to Al-Orubah, awarding them three points after determining that Al-Orubah had fielded an ineligible player. This decision elevated Al-Nassr from fourth to third place in the league table, reviving faint hopes of continental qualification.
However, only the top two teams qualify for the prestigious AFC Champions League Elite, while third place is reserved for the second-tier tournament-making it a bittersweet outcome for Ronaldo’s side.
Despite being the marquee name in Saudi football and a central figure in the league’s global expansion efforts, Ronaldo won’t be appearing at next month’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Al-Hilal, not Al-Nassr, will represent Saudi Arabia in the newly expanded 32-team competition, which begins on June 14.
Interestingly, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has added intrigue to the situation by suggesting that Ronaldo might still play a role in the Club World Cup. Speaking in an interview with popular YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed, Infantino remarked, “Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup,” before adding, “There are discussions with some clubs… who knows, who knows.”
This has fueled talk of a potential short-term move or loan that could see Ronaldo make a surprise appearance in the tournament. Such a move might even reunite him on the same stage with Lionel Messi, who will be representing Inter Miami.
Whether Ronaldo’s next steps involve a new club, a temporary switch, or something more unexpected, his post signals a clear shift. One chapter may be closing, but the football world waits eagerly to see how the next part of his story unfolds.