The 2024/25 Saudi Pro League season has come to a dramatic close, but for Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s another campaign marked by individual brilliance overshadowed by collective disappointment. The Portuguese superstar scored his 800th career club goal in the final league match and clinched the Golden Boot with 25 goals, but his team, Al Nassr, once again ended the season without silverware.
Now, speculation is mounting that Ronaldo may be on his way out, setting the stage for a short-term return to international club competition via the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
800 Goals and a Golden Boot — But No Trophy
In the season finale, Al Nassr travelled to face Al-Fateh. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, marking his 25th league goal this season and bringing his career club tally to a remarkable 800 goals. However, his heroics weren’t enough. A stoppage-time winner from Al-Fateh’s Machado sealed a 3-2 defeat for Al Nassr.
The result left Al Nassr in third place with 70 points, missing out on qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite. Their domestic campaign also saw them fall short in key competitions, finishing as runners-up in the Saudi Super Cup, being knocked out in the AFC Champions League semifinals, and being eliminated in the Round of 16 of the King’s Cup. In short, another season with no trophies.
“This Chapter Is Over”, Ronaldo Hints at Future Move
After the match, Ronaldo posted a cryptic message on Instagram:
“This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Thank you all.”
The post immediately triggered speculation about his future. Having joined Al Nassr in December 2022 on a record-breaking deal, the 39-year-old’s contract is set to expire this summer. Despite his strong personal performances, the team’s failure to secure any major honours may prompt him to seek a new challenge.
FIFA Club World Cup: A Possible Next Stop
Several international outlets have reported that Ronaldo could sign a short-term deal, possibly just one month, to participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 13.
Even FIFA President Gianni Infantino hinted at the possibility:
Cristiano Ronaldo may play for one of the teams in the Club World Cup. Discussions are happening, and if a club is interested in signing him… who knows?
The expanded Club World Cup, hosted in the United States, will feature elite clubs from every continent. A Ronaldo appearance would elevate the global attention on the tournament and offer him a new pathway, back to Europe, into MLS, or even another emerging football market.
No club has officially confirmed contact with Ronaldo, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains one of football’s biggest icons. Whether he chooses to extend his stay in Saudi Arabia, make a high-profile return to Europe, or pursue a new adventure in North America or elsewhere, Ronaldo’s next move will be one of the most closely watched stories of the 2025 summer transfer window.
