Cristiano Ronaldo dropped a stunner on Monday following his club’s final match of the season.
After Al Nassr fell to Al Fateh 3-2 to close out a disappointing 2024/25 on a low, Ronaldo posted to his social media channels: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.”
It was a surprising turn of events, as many had imagined the 40-year-old would finish his career at the Saudi Pro League club. However, given the uncertainty over whether or not he would sign a new contract with Al Nassr in recent weeks, there was always a possibility he could look for a new challenge.
Al Nassr then attempted to address the situation, but only seemed to add more uncertainty by holding a confusing press conference where few questions were answered.
The Sporting News looks at what Ronaldo’s future could look like now that he may be searching for a new club to continue his illustrious career.
MORE: Will Cristiano Ronaldo play at the 2025 Club World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo next club: Where could CR7 end up?
There’s very little concrete information about where Cristiano Ronaldo could go next, leaving much of the world to simply speculate.
Al Nassr held a press conference on May 29 to address the issue, but did not provide many answers. The club was adamant that Ronaldo would stay through the end of his current contract, which runs through July of this year, but with no more matches to be played, that felt like an empty threat.
Here are a few potential options for CR7 for his next “chapter.”
Al Hilal
A rumour that has popped up in the last 48 hours has been a shock move to Al Nassr’s primary domestic adversary Al Hilal, who are not only one of the best Saudi clubs, but also a cross-town rival Riyadh.
While Ronaldo could potentially move permanently across the city, it seems more likely that this would come to pass as simply a short-term loan for the Club World Cup this summer, with Ronaldo then moving back to Al Nassr for the upcoming season.
It’s created quite the stir amongst both fanbases, and Al Nassr supporters are quite unhappy with this suggestion. Because of the significant fan backlash that has already occurred, which would escalate significantly in the event of a move materialising, this feels like an ultimately unlikely scenario.
A club in the Club World Cup
Like the proposed move to Al Hilal, it’s quite reasonable that Ronaldo’s next destination involves a short-term contract to see him play at the Club World Cup.
Signing with a team just for the summer tournament, particularly one of the European clubs, could benefit all parties involved.
Ronaldo would get to play at a major new FIFA event, the club could boast CR7 on its roster while resting its regulars for the competition to avoid any long-term injury risks, and the competition would draw much greater crowds with Ronaldo on the field. This certainly appeared to be on Gianni Infantino’s mind when the FIFA president suggested last week that talks were ongoing between Club World Cup teams and Ronaldo’s management.
Clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester City, or even his former sides Real Madrid or Juventus could benefit from Ronaldo’s presence, allowing them to spread minutes around the squad in a summer competition that will be a significant strain on the roster.
A move to a Portuguese club would, in theory, make sense, but given Ronaldo’s loyalty to his boyhood team Sporting CP — the only of the big three Portuguese clubs not involved in the competition — the likely backlash with signing for rivals Porto or Benfica would complicate such a deal.
He could be a fit for one of the South American clubs, such as Palmeiras, Flamengo, or Botafogo, or Liga MX side Pachuca. There has already been speculation that Monterrey have spoken to his representatives, and Wydad of Morocco have been linked, too. There are myriad options here.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino even publicly stated in an interview with influencer iShowSpeed that Ronaldo could potentially play in the Club World Cup. If the head of global football, who is trumpeting this competition heavily, is speaking on the possibility, there are undoubtedly legs to this concept.
MORE: Club World Cup format | Confirmed groups and tournament bracket
MLS clubs, including Inter Miami
If Ronaldo were to continue his career at a place that will pay him the most, a move to Major League Soccer could be on the cards.
The transfer process in MLS is somewhat convoluted, which would make speculating the club he would end up at extra difficult, but Inter Miami would obviously come up given the potential seismic shockwave that would resonate should he team up with Lionel Messi.
Other likely destinations include LA Galaxy and LAFC, although neither is in the market for a No. 9 at the moment.
However, Ronaldo’s past legal issues in the United States make a move to MLS a bit more complicated.
A mysterious Brazilian suitor
While this was briefly mentioned earlier in the Club World Cup section, it’s worth flushing out a bit more.
According to a report by Marca earlier in May, Ronaldo has a significant offer tabled by an unnamed Brazilian club, although the report did note that it would “open the door for him to participate in the Club World Cup,” seeming to hint that the interested party is one of the four Brazilian sides involved in the summer tournament.
While a short-term deal for the Club World Cup would be possible, it’s also plausible that he could sign on longer term with a South American side, with the Brazilian league in the middle of its season.
Botafogo, who won last year’s Copa Libertadores, have won just three of their first nine league games and could be a team in need, while Sao Paulo and Atletico Mineiro are other clubs who started the season poorly and could use a boost. He could also sign with a top club like Palmeiras, Flamengo, or Fluminense if he wishes to challenge for the title, although those squads are less in need of his services.
A return to Al Nassr
While Ronaldo has cut a frustrated figure at Al Nassr in recent weeks, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see him about-face and re-sign with his current Saudi club.
Ronaldo has been a consistent performer for Al Nassr even as the club falters around him. They fell just short in this year’s AFC Champions League, losing in the semifinals, and failed to qualify altogether for continental competition next season — a significant blow.
However, Ronaldo’s gone all in on Saudi football since joining Al Nassr three years ago, and it would be a surprise to see him put that all behind him. His son plays in the club’s youth system, he has heavily promoted the league and national setup, and he is expected to be involved in the nation’s push towards hosting duties in the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) will most certainly make a massive financial push to retain Ronaldo even if he is frustrated with the current situation.
