1 year ago
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ESPN News Services
Jun 28, 2025, 06:26 PM ET
Cristiano Ronaldo said that the Saudi Pro League is already 1 of the apical 5 leagues successful the world, aft the Portuguese planetary renewed his declaration with Al Nassr.
The Saudi Pro League nine announced connected Thursday that Ronaldo had signed a two-year contract that would support him astatine the nine past his 42nd birthday.
"Of course, we [the Saudi Pro League] are inactive improving but I judge that successful this infinitesimal that we are successful apical 5 [leagues successful the world] already. I inactive judge that we volition proceed to improve, and we person clip and we person shown successful the past 2 years that the league is going up each the time," Ronaldo said successful a video posted by Al Nassr connected X.
"I americium blessed due to the fact that I cognize that the league is precise competitive. Only the radical who person ne'er played successful Saudi, they don't recognize thing astir shot accidental this league is not apical 5 [in the world].
"I judge 100% successful my words, and the radical that play successful this league they cognize what I americium talking about."
Ronaldo besides embraced Saudi Arabia arsenic big for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
"This is wherefore I privation to stay, due to the fact that I judge successful the task -- not conscionable the adjacent 2 years but until 2034, which volition beryllium the World Cup successful Saudi Arabia. I believe, too, that volition beryllium the astir beauteous [World Cup] ever."
The Portugal skipper added that his purpose successful staying astatine Al Nassr was to triumph a large trophy with the Riyadh-based broadside aft failing to onshore silverware since arriving astatine the extremity of 2022.
"My goal, it's ever to triumph thing important for Al Nassr. And of people I inactive judge successful that" Ronaldo added.
"This is wherefore I renewed the 2 years much due to the fact that I judge that I volition beryllium a champion successful Saudi Arabia".
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr aft leaving Manchester United, has scored 93 goals successful 105 appearances for them successful each competitions.
Ronaldo is besides eyeing the 1,000-goal milestone successful his career. He has scored 794 goals successful nine shot and 138 for Portugal to instrumentality his tally to 932.
Prior to signing his caller deal, speculation implicit the 40-year-old's plans intensified past period erstwhile FIFA President Gianni Infantino said discussions were underway astir Ronaldo playing successful the Club World Cup, contempt Al Nassr failing to qualify.
However, helium said preferred to instrumentality a remainder alternatively than play successful the revamped tourney successful the United States.
"I had immoderate offers to play successful the World Cup but I deliberation it didn't marque consciousness due to the fact that I similar to person a bully rest, a bully preparation, due to the fact that this play volition beryllium precise agelong arsenic it is the World Cup play astatine the extremity of the year," helium said.
"I privation to beryllium acceptable not lone for Al Nassr but besides for the nationalist team. So, this is wherefore I decided to play the past crippled for the Nations League and not perceive to anything," helium added.
"And of course, to beryllium successful this club, which I love".
Ronaldo scored for Portugal successful the Nations League last against Spain earlier this month, with the crippled ending 2-2 earlier his broadside went connected to bushed the European champions connected penalties.
Information from Reuters was utilized successful this report.
