The good air of Saudi Arabia seems to persist. Recently, it was Karim Benzema who debunked the retirement rumors which had been circulating for several days in the Saudi press, on the contrary clearly implying that he intended to continue the adventure for a few more years despite his 38 years. “
These are the words of I don’t know who. It’s nonsense “, he confided, adding: “ I have no limit to tell myself that in two, three or four years, I will stop playing football. I feel good, thank God. My body is fine. I prepare well and we will see how I feel each year. »
But Karim Benzema is not the only one who wants to make the fun last. The same is true of Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Ballon d’Or may be approaching his 40th birthday, which he will celebrate on February 5, but CR7 is in the process of extending his contract with the Al-Nassr club, according to the Saudi media Al Khabar cited by O Jogo.
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to play in the 2026 World Cup
This extension should extend the Portuguese’s lease for an additional season and earn him a new salary increase. His new contract should allow him to earn more than 200 million euros for this season alone, which will allow him to maintain his status as the highest paid footballer in the world.
According to Forbes, the former Mancunian received no less than 263 million euros in income in 2024, taking into account his salary at Al-Nassr and his sponsorship contracts. His runner-up, Lionel Messi, had to settle for 124 million euros at the same time. According to the Saudi media, they would also have been reassured by the speech of its leaders, determined to strike hard during the next transfer window to strengthen their team.
But if Cristiano Ronaldo decided to continue the adventure with Al-Nassr, it is also with the idea of playing in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He would also be motivated by the idea of reaching the 1,000 career goal mark. “I said publicly that I wanted to reach 1,000 goals and this now gives the impression that I only want to achieve them, he confided in the past. My goal is to live in the moment and see how my legs react. If this thousand arrives so much the better, otherwise no one has scored more goals than me, then…”
Author of 915 career goals, CR7 has 9 goals in 11 matches this season in the Saudi championship.
