- 28
- May
- 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo didn't need long speeches. A few carefully considered words on his social networks the day after the final match of the season with Al-Nassr: “This chapter is over. History is still being written. Thank you all.” The message was as terse as it was deafening, and the world of soccer was quick to pick up on it. At nearly 40 years of age, the Portuguese is still the subject of obsession. He realized long ago that his silence makes more noise than many a press conference.
Officially, his contract with Al-Nassr runs until the end of June. Unofficially, a verbal agreement for an extension has been mooted. But behind the scenes, the situation has changed. The Saudi club's elimination from the forthcoming Asian Champions League could shake the last pillars of his commitment. Despite his age and extraordinary stature, Ronaldo continues to think like a competitor. And if the trophies don't come to him, he'll look for them elsewhere.
Al-Nassr was a risky, almost romantic gamble: to turn Saudi Arabia into a football land worthy of its geopolitical ambitions. CR7 brought visibility, stature and goals. But he won nothing. Neither championship nor continental cup. And for a man who has built his legend on titles, this fact alone is enough to make you long for one last thrill elsewhere.
Where Will He Go From Here?
The question now on everyone's lips is, where could Cristiano Ronaldo bounce back to?
Rumors are rife, ranging from media fantasies to credible options. But one thing is certain: the next Club World Cup, the XXL version, is attracting a lot of interest. And a number of teams who have qualified for the competition are dreaming of luring CR7 into their ranks, if only to make a splash on the global stage. Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Wydad Casablanca and Monterrey: all destinations that, to varying degrees, represent football lands that are vibrant, inhabited and passionate, the antithesis of a purely financial project.
The Inter Miami Hypothesis: Messi + Ronaldo?
Some dream of a crazy partnership with Messi at Inter Miami. The idea makes people smile as much as it panics the networks. It would be the final piece in a legendary jigsaw puzzle: bringing together the two sacred monsters in the same team, on the same pitch, under the same colors. From a sporting point of view, it would be a colossal challenge. Media-wise, a hurricane.
An Interlude in Latin America?
But other scenarios, less flashy in appearance, could well prove more coherent. Starting with Monterrey. The Mexican club, already boosted by the arrival of Sergio Ramos, is desperately looking for a finisher, a name, a reason to believe again. It ticks several boxes: ambition, visibility, financial capacity and, above all, a clear sporting need. Monterrey could embody a perfect transition: a competitive environment, a demanding championship and a Club World Cup in sight.
In Brazil, the possibility of a Ronaldo move to Flamengo or Palmeiras is the talk of the town. The country is experiencing a return to form for its clubs, capable of repatriating stars or attracting European talent. But economic reality is stubborn. Even the Carioca giants will find it hard to match the numbers demanded by a name like Cristiano. And beyond pay, an entire tactical balance needs to be rethought: how do you integrate a legend who no longer runs like he used to, but who continues to kill matches in the box?
The South American temptation, on the other hand, appeals for other reasons. The intensity of the atmosphere, the popular dimension, the madness of the stadiums, the Copa Libertadores nights when every ball is a match ball. Over there, you don't play, you live. And this is perhaps what Ronaldo lacks today: a context that goes beyond him, that still fires him up.
But the real challenge lies elsewhere. Cristiano Ronaldo isn't just looking for a club. He's looking for a stage. He wants to write his own final line. And as long as his name continues to thrill the football world, he will remain master of his own destiny. Perhaps that is the greatest achievement of his career: to still be, at the age of 40, the man everyone is waiting for.
Comments