At 38, Cristiano Ronaldo looks to be back to his best. After a disastrous spell at Manchester United, the Portuguese international has found joy in football again with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, scoring goals for fun for club and country. While many players in his age range are declining, Ronaldo is aging just fine.
Just a few months into the new season, Cristiano Ronaldo has had 21 goal contributions for Al-Nassr. Despite being the man in form, the former Real Madrid man has claimed he does not care much about the records he’s breaking and only wants to focus on winning with Al-Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo talks about his hunger for records
Much of Cristiano Ronaldo’s prime in La Liga was spent competing with Lionel Messi for the title of best player in the world. The forward relished the healthy rivalry, claiming on so many occasions that the Argentine pushed him to be a better player. This worked for both parties, as they shared the Ballon d’Or between them for almost a decade.
With both players now playing away from Europe, Cristiano Ronaldo has reiterated that he does not care much about the records anymore. He’s the highest goalscorer in 2023, scoring over 40 goals this year for club and country, more than any other player in the world.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored another brace in an incredible Al-Nassr’s 4-3 win over Al-Duhail in the AFC Champions League, bringing his tally for the year to 43 goals. “I don’t care much about records,” Ronaldo shockingly revealed.
“I’m just thinking about enjoying it at the moment. Our team is improving from one match to another. Our coach and technical staff are making a great effort to make Al-Nassr the strongest team. The key to continuing to achieve records is that I am having fun, and this is a beautiful thing in football and the secret of my continuity,” he added.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s amazing season with Al-Nassr in numbers
With support from Sadio Mane and international teammate Otavio, Cristiano Ronaldo has raised his game beyond expectations this season. The Portugal captain endured a tough first few months at the club, but Ronaldo’s output for Al-Nassr has increased tremendously with a strong pre-season at the start of this new season.
Ronaldo is not just scoring goals this season; he’s also providing assists, taking his overall game to the next level despite being 38. The former United star has scored 14 goals and provided four assists in 13 games for the Saudi club this season.
Ronaldo is also reportedly hoping to stay at the Saudi club beyond his original contract. The Portuguese international is set to extend his $75-million-a-year deal at the club until at least 2027.
His output in front of goal could increase, with reports suggesting that City star Kevin De Bruyne may be making a switch to the Saudi Pro League next summer.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo extend his stay at Al-Nassr? Drop your predictions in the comments section.
