Cristiano Ronaldo extends contract with Al Nassr, gives big boost to Saudi football

The growing popularity of football in Saudi Arabia received a major boost on Thursday as Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo extended his contract with Al Nassr until 2027.

"A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together," Ronaldo posted as he posed with an Al Nassr jersey that had '2027' written on the back.

The Saudi Pro League side signed Ronaldo in January 2023 from Premier League heavyweights Manchester United. Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner who played a pivotal role in helping Portugal clinch the UEFA Nations League recently.

At Al Nassr, Ronaldo won the Arab Club Champions Cup in his first season, scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Al-Hilal in the final. At 40, Ronaldo remains a powerful presence in the Al Nassr side. In the recently concluded domestic season, Ronaldo finished the top scorer in the Pro League with 25 goals.

Ronaldo's big move to Saudi, even as he was in high demand in Europe, opened a window of opportunity for several top players from leading leagues. A host of big players turned to the Arab world to prolong their careers; some of the popular ones are Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Neves, N'Golo Kante, Franck Kessie, Georgino Wijnaldum, Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Bounou to name a few.

Young talents such as Brazilian winger Angelo (20), Colombian striker Jhon Duran (21) and French-Mali attacker Moussa Diaby (25) also compete in Saudi.