If you were told that someone with a 100 million euro annual salary has become the spokesperson for an "injury shelter," would you believe it? That person is Neymar! This genius who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Messi and Ronaldo has now had a short-lived experience in the Saudi league, ending in a hasty contract termination. The former "third man in football" has now become the representative of "injury-prone talents." Is it injuries that have dragged him down, or was it a mistake in his choices that became the turning point in his fate? Let's rewind to the time when Neymar was full of ambition. His talent was hailed as a gift from God to football. From Brazil's Santos team, where he first made a name for himself, to the European powerhouse Barcelona, he soared forward. There was a time when Santos fans shouted, "Football is Neymar's national art," and Barcelona opened the door to the top stage for him. During his time at Barcelona, he formed the fearsome "trident" with Messi and Suarez, their chemistry and goals flowing like clouds and water. Especially during the 2015 Champions League season, Neymar helped Barcelona win the treble in Europe. At that time, Neymar was seen as the only one capable of succeeding Messi and Ronaldo, with a strong wind at his back. However, heroes fear the thinness of beauty, and geniuses fear the accumulation of injuries. Neymar's career seems to have taken a turn after the spinal injury in the 2014 World Cup. At that time, as Brazil's top star,…

In recent years, the topic of Cristiano Ronaldo's transfers has become an evergreen in the football world. Whether it was his departure from Manchester United or his phenomenal performance in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo always manages to capture everyone's attention. Now, with the new season approaching, discussions about whether he will return to the Premier League have intensified once again. Many top clubs have made moves, especially Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Newcastle, among others. These financially powerful clubs see Ronaldo as a "key figure" to enhance their competitiveness. However, will Ronaldo be tempted? The answer is surprising. According to well-known transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Ronaldo did not choose to return to the Premier League but instead decided to renew his contract with Al-Nassr and continue playing in Saudi Arabia. This decision shocked many fans and media, especially considering that Ronaldo is nearing 40 years of age. Ronaldo's choice to stay in Saudi Arabia is not just about money. It is reported that Ronaldo's new contract with Al-Nassr has an annual salary of up to 220 million euros, a figure that not only far exceeds Messi's salary in the MLS (60 million euros) but also approaches that of basketball superstar LeBron James. This treatment undoubtedly highlights Ronaldo's special status in the football world and shows that despite his career nearing its end, he still possesses significant earning power. From a competitive standpoint, Ronaldo remains at the top level. This season, he has played 20 times in the Saudi league, scoring 17 goals, and continues to compete for the Golden Boot. Even at…

360 Million Annual Salary + Team Shares! Cristiano Ronaldo's King-Bomb Renewal On January 15th, Beijing time, the famous journalist José Félix Díaz from Marca exclusively reported that Cristiano Ronaldo has renewed his contract with Al-Nassr for another year. What are the conditions for the renewal? After-tax annual salary of 183 million euros, monthly salary of 15.25 million, weekly salary of 3.8 million, daily salary of 550,000 euros. In just a few years, he easily retains the top spot in the world's football player income rankings. Saudi Arabia is so generous because it's worth it. On the field, compared to Neymar who almost played every game, Ronaldo scored 44 goals and created 56 goals in a single season. He broke various goal-scoring records and attracted huge attention to the Saudi league. Neymar, with a two-year contract after-tax of 300 million, only played 428 minutes, costing 700,000 euros per minute. This angered Al-Hilal so much that they didn't even register him. If he wasn't a well-known figure, he would have been taken away long ago. Saudi money isn't that easy to get. Off the field, Ronaldo has always been "causing trouble." He insisted that the Saudi league is among the top five in Europe and firmly stated this in multiple public occasions. On January 19, 2024, Ronaldo said in an interview at the Dubai Globe Awards ceremony: "The Saudi League is not worse than Ligue 1." "The Saudi League is more competitive than Ligue 1. After playing there for a year, I can say that we are now better than Ligue 1."…

According to multiple media reports, Al Nassr has agreed to renew their contract with Cristiano Ronaldo. On January 15th, South Korean media also followed up on the news, with Korean media satirizing that Ronaldo is now continuing to play in Saudi Arabia solely for money. South Korean media outlet "Khan" reported that the 40-year-old Ronaldo is about to reach a renewal agreement with Al Nassr, maintaining his position as the highest-paid player in the world. It is said that Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr has been extended until June 2026, with an annual salary of approximately 200 million euros (about 3 trillion won). South Korean media stated: "If the renewal is successful, Ronaldo's weekly salary will be about 57 billion won, which is equivalent to earning 8 billion won per day." Ronaldo has so far made 90 appearances for Al Nassr, scoring 81 goals. This season, Ronaldo has played 20 games for the team, contributing 17 goals and 3 assists. South Korean media reported that Ronaldo also bought a new private jet worth 50 million euros, while selling his previous private jet for 20 million euros. The newly acquired plane also cost an additional 10 million euros for customization (the total cost of the new plane is 60 million euros, about 90 billion won). South Korean media finally satirized: "When Ronaldo first joined the Saudi team, he still said that the culture was different and everything was not easy. He went there not for money, but for victory and trophies. However, at the age of 40, he has also obtained…

In March, the national football team will face two crucial World Cup qualifiers, playing away against Saudi Arabia and at home against Australia. These two matches will directly determine whether the national team can continue its pursuit of a place in the World Cup. These games are both an opportunity and a challenge, and the lineup of the national team has also undergone new changes. The addition of five naturalized players has given the team an appearance of significantly increased strength, but can this seemingly strongest lineup withstand the pressure from Saudi Arabia and Australia? Let's start with the naturalized players. The inclusion of Oscar and Serginho has indeed brought much anticipation to the national team. Oscar's attacking ability and experience, coupled with Serginho's midfield organization, can provide significant assistance to the national team. Hou Yongyong, despite his impressive performance in the Norwegian First Division, still needs time to prove himself in the national team. These players seem capable of enhancing the overall strength of the national team, but the adaptability of the naturalized players is key. We have seen many cases of naturalized players joining the national team, and it is not that simple to expect immediate change. Naturalization cannot solve all problems; the integration of players and tactics is at the core. Speaking of Ivan, his apparent smile may represent a certain optimism, but the tension within him is probably self-evident. The addition of five naturalized players does give him more options, but whether Ivan's tactics can cope with the strong attacks from Saudi Arabia and Australia is…

In recent days, the future of Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has once again become a hot topic in the football world. The Uruguayan international has recently become the target of several top clubs, with Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia showing particularly strong interest in acquiring him. Initially, there were rumors that Nunez might transfer to AC Milan, with reports suggesting that the Rossoneri were considering bringing in the young striker on loan. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Al-Nassr emerged as a contender, not only joining the competition but also preparing to bring Nunez to the Middle East with an astonishing price tag. According to Anfield Watch, Al-Nassr has offered Nunez a contract with a weekly salary of up to £400,000, more than double his current £140,000 weekly wage at Liverpool. Remarkably, this salary even surpasses that of Liverpool's highest-paid player, Salah, who earns £350,000 per week. Such a generous offer undoubtedly reflects the strong desire of the Saudi club to secure Nunez's services. Although Nunez himself prefers to continue his career in European football, the high salary offered by Al-Nassr has undoubtedly had a significant impact on his decision. For any professional player, such a lucrative offer is difficult to resist. However, it seems that Liverpool is not willing to let go of the Uruguayan forward easily. According to Anfield Watch, the Reds have rejected Al-Nassr's £70 million offer for Nunez, believing that the forward's value is closer to £85 million. This price is comparable to the transfer fee Nunez received when he moved from Benfica to Liverpool…

The Saudi Arabian football team was once a powerhouse in Asian football. Taking the last 12-team tournament as an example, they managed to outperform Japan and topped their group with impressive results, directly qualifying for the World Cup, enjoying a moment of glory. However, no one could have anticipated that in this edition of the 18-team competition, the Saudi team would find themselves mired in difficulties. They managed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over China after a difficult comeback, which they thought marked the beginning of their resurgence. Yet, reality dealt them a heavy blow. In subsequent matches, the Saudi team suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Japan, completely overwhelmed by Japan's superior strength, leaving them with no ability to fight back. They were then held to consecutive 0-0 draws by Bahrain and Australia, which, although not defeats, cost the Saudis valuable points they desperately needed in their quest for victories and qualification. In the previous round against Indonesia, widely considered the weakest team in the group, the Saudis shocked everyone by losing 0-2 again. This placed them in an awkward four-game winless streak, erasing any advantage they had accumulated and allowing teams like Bahrain, Indonesia, and the Chinese national team to catch up in points. On the other hand, our national team (China) has been adopting a low profile in the competition, which has lulled some opponents into a false sense of security, Saudi Arabia included. But they didn't expect that this seemingly inconspicuous Chinese team has changed dramatically. With the naturalization of players like Oscar and Serginho,…

After a brief winter break, the Saudi League reignited with Al-Nassr securing a 3-1 victory over Al-Ahli, marking a successful start. Mane scored twice in the match, while Cristiano Ronaldo also opened his scoring account for the new year with a penalty kick. This particular penalty kick was significant as it marked Ronaldo's 917th career goal and his 60th goal in the Saudi League, coincidentally occurring in his 60th appearance in the league. This means he averages one goal per game in the Saudi League, making him the third-fastest player in league history to reach 60 goals, with an additional 15 assists. It is also his 24th consecutive calendar year scoring goals. However, as usual, this penalty kick provided detractors with ammunition to criticize Ronaldo, claiming that he only scores from penalties. Out of his 11 league goals this season, six were from penalties, and some have even calculated that since the 2022 World Cup, 27% of his goals have been penalties. Despite the criticism, Ronaldo, who is accustomed to media scrutiny, remains unaffected. He maintains a positive attitude during training and matches, often seen smiling on the field. This resilience not only helps him stay focused but also translates into increased publicity and financial gain. In fact, he topped the football income chart in 2024 with earnings of 260 million euros, significantly ahead of others. Some question Ronaldo's contributions beyond scoring penalties. While detailed tactical analysis is beyond the scope of this article, it can be summarized that Ronaldo's mere presence on the field demands constant attention from defenders,…

Manchester United, the Premier League powerhouse, changed its head coach at the beginning of this season, with Portuguese manager Amorim taking over and continuing to use his favored 3421 formation. However, the results have not been ideal, and the team has slipped to 13th place in the league, with a significant number of players not fitting Amorim's tactical requirements. Due to previous excessive spending in the transfer market, Manchester United does not have much funds left to support Amorim in improving the squad. Therefore, to buy new players, they first need to clean up some high-paid surplus players. Rashford, Antony, Zirkzee, Eriksen, Lindelof, Mount, and others are all potential candidates for sale. However, the first player to leave Manchester United in the winter window is none other than Casemiro, once known as the "world's best defensive midfielder." The Saudi Public Investment Fund has finalized Casemiro's move, but which specific team he will play for has not been determined. The transfer fee is set at 25 million pounds, and Casemiro can earn a weekly salary of 650,000 pounds (about 40 million euros per year). The 32-year-old Casemiro has had an extremely brilliant career. He started at Sao Paulo in Brazil's Serie A and joined Real Madrid at the age of 20. In ten seasons, he played 310 times for the La Liga giants, scoring 31 goals and providing 28 assists. Casemiro, along with Modric and Kroos, formed a midfield trio considered one of the best, with Casemiro at his peak being both offensive and defensive, earning him the title of "world's…

China's national football team is facing a crucial moment in their World Cup qualifying campaign, with matches against Saudi Arabia and Australia being seen as key tests for their chances of reaching the tournament. The question arises: can the addition of several newly naturalized players, along with tactical adjustments, truly change the team's decades-long struggle? During recent training sessions, three names have stood out: Hou Yongyong, Oscar, and Serginho. These naturalized players are viewed by many as a turning point for the team's strength, but it's important to remember that the concept of "naturalization" itself is controversial. Hou Yongyong, the first naturalized player in Chinese football history, has been a topic of discussion since his return from Norway. Some see him as the future of Chinese football, while others view naturalization as a short-term solution that doesn't address underlying issues. Despite the debate, Hou Yongyong has brought changes to the front line with his speed and flexibility, adding depth to the team's attacking play. He now occupies a key position on the front line, forming a partnership with Zhang Yuning that combines speed and power. Fans eagerly await to see if he can withstand the pressure and silence his critics during the match against Saudi Arabia. Oscar, known for his time at Chelsea and now playing in the Chinese Super League, is another focal point. His precise through balls and high-level vision have made him a model for midfielders. After naturalization, he is seen as the engine of the national team's midfield, although relying solely on him may be overly…