A deep dive into Cristiano Ronaldo heading to Saudi Arabia and it’s impact

Cristiano Ronaldo a player who needs no introduction, has crossed broken boundaries of the game all along his career. After conquering Europe, the man set sights on Asia, which shocked fans around the globe with a colossal money move, introducing the world to a new league.

In December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr, marking a significant moment in the history of Saudi football. His move came after a decorated career in Europe, where he dominated with clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

The arrival of the Portuguese icon in Saudi Arabia was seen as a game-changer for the league, attracting international attention and setting the game’s bar in the region. In no time he became the league’s poster boy, drawing massive crowds and extensive media coverage across channels globally. His on-field performances were prolific, contributing goals and assists while helping his team fight for domestic titles and compete in the AFC Champions League.

Beyond the sport, The ex-Real Madrid star’s presence created a cultural and commercial impact by drawing sponsorships and investment deals to Saudi, boosting its reputation as a country. His influence inspired a new generation of Saudi players and brought greater interest from European starlets as well.

The points of discussion

Boost to Saudi Arabia:

Ronaldo’s move brought global attention to the Saudi Pro League

His presence helped attract the country both for sport and tourism

The former Manchester United star’s was a phenomenon on the pitch for Al Nassr

His leadership helped the team compete at the top level, making mentality a compulsory attitude

Commercial and Cultural Impact:

Ronaldo’s arrival transformed the landscape of Saudi football, with sponsorships, TV deals, and merchandise sales all booming.

His move also helped promote football in the country and inspire a wide range of local talents

Beyond the deal, Ronaldo became a global ambassador for Saudi football, becoming a board member in promoting the kingdom’s growing ambitions.

He signed with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to expanding the country’s presence on the world stage, as they plan to host the FIFA World Cup in the future.

The Best Days

With a record-breaking annual salary of €200 million that runs till 2025, including €90 million in football earnings and the rest from commercial deals, Ronaldo became the highest-paid footballer ever in history.

His debuted on 22 January 2023, captaining Al-Nassr in a 1–0 win over Al-Ettifaq, while his first goal came through a penalty in a 2–2 draw against Al-Fateh. Later, Ronaldo scored a poker in a 4–0 win over Al Wehda on 9 February, marking his 500th career league goal. This spread the waves of high-profile transfers to the Saudi Pro League for the current and upcoming season.

On 12 August Ronaldo won gis first trophy in Asia scoring twice in a 2–1 extra-time victory over Al-Hilal to win the Arab Club Champions Cup. By the end of 2023, he had netted 54 goals, his highest in a year since 2016 and also broke the Saudi Pro League goal record with his 34th and 35th goals of the season.

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