Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese star, celebrates his 40th birthday today, Wednesday (5th February), still able to play at his best for both Al Nassr and the Portugal national team.
Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest football players of all time, and reaching the age of 40 without a major decline in performance only proves how extraordinary his career has been.
While maintaining his technical level and fitness has been a significant challenge, Ronaldo has already overcome this. However, there are still other challenges waiting for the Portugal captain from now until his retirement.
World Cup
Winning the World Cup remains “the greatest dream” for any footballer, and it’s no different for Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite winning almost every other possible title, the World Cup has eluded him.
His best World Cup achievement was finishing fourth with Portugal in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Cristiano Ronaldo has tried to do better in the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments but faced disappointment each time.
Ronaldo has not confirmed whether he will participate in the upcoming World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. However, early signs suggest the star of Al Nassr is eager to lead Portugal and finally lift the World Cup.
A First Official Trophy with Al Nassr
While Cristiano Ronaldo has broken numerous records with Al Nassr, he has yet to win an official title with the club. He has come close to winning on several occasions, and fans saw him deeply emotional after Al Nassr lost to their rivals Al Hilal in the final of the King’s Cup in the 2023-24 season.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Goal Number 1000
So far, Cristiano Ronaldo has played 89 matches for Al Nassr, scoring 81 goals. At this pace, Ronaldo is on track to reach his 1000th career goal.
As of now, Ronaldo has scored 917 goals with the clubs he has represented and the Portugal national team (923 goals when including his goals in the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup).
Retirement After Messi
Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s long-time rival, is often seen as the Portuguese player’s main competitor in the football world. The two players have battled for years to be recognised as the “best in the world.”
Currently, Messi, 37, plays for Inter Miami in the US after leaving Europe in 2023. Ronaldo may aim to retire after Messi, as his Argentine counterpart has fewer football ambitions now, especially after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and two Copa América titles (2021 and 2024), along with the record for the most Ballon d’Or titles (8 times).
A Return to Europe
Despite turning 40, European clubs still show interest in Cristiano Ronaldo, considering his impressive fitness and continued top-level performance. A return to Europe and shining again on the continent before retiring could be another challenge for Ronaldo in his career.
Ronaldo has already played for four European clubs: Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Many believe he could return to Sporting to retire at his first club or even make a surprising comeback to Manchester United to rewrite the final chapter of his career with the Red Devils.
In conclusion, while Ronaldo’s career has been extraordinary, his final years will be filled with key challenges as he strives for more achievements and possibly writes a new chapter in Europe.
