Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr is set to expire in just six months, but the Saudi Arabian club is willing to extend his contract by one year until 2026. This decision means that when the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico arrives, the 41-year-old Ronaldo will still be fighting on the green field, and after that, he will officially retire, drawing a perfect conclusion to his career.
At the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony, Ronaldo explained this situation and expressed his high satisfaction with his current physical condition. However, behind this seemingly positive outlook, there are many controversial points. There is a huge divergence between Ronaldo's views and those of some of his fans.
Ronaldo can easily score goals in the "low-level kindergarten league" of the Saudi Professional League. However, in the crucial European Championship, he failed to score in five matches. A football player's physical abilities are like a countdown, declining every year. Two years from now, will the physically deteriorating Ronaldo be able to maintain good form against higher-level competitions?
What is even more puzzling is that Ronaldo's persistence seems to revolve more around himself. He turns a deaf ear to some external opinions, caring only about his own inner thoughts and the seemingly precious title brought by his six World Cup participations, which is controversial in terms of actual match results. The World Cup stage is undoubtedly grand, but a player's value is not solely determined by the number of participations but also by their actual contributions in the games.
Interestingly, if Portugal wins the European Championship in 2028 after Ronaldo retires, it would be a slap in the face for Ronaldo, as it was precisely because he occupied the starting position in the national team that Portugal has been unable to win the championship.