Cristiano Ronaldo set to earn $645,000 a day? Star footballer signs new contract with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr

'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together,' he wrote

Last updated: June 26, 2025 | 17:57

Jai Rai, Assistant Editor

2 MIN READ

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) poses with club chairman Abdullah Al Majid after signing a new deal with the Saudi club at an undisclosed location.

AFP

Dubai: Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to extend his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr for a reportedly an eye-watering deal that can fetch him up to $645,000 (Dh2.4 million) a day.

The 40-year-old Portugal international had only recently put a message on social media 'This chapter is over' which had send strong indications that he was ending his ties with the Saudi club.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino further fuelled it when he said there was a possibility of the forward featuring in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup that is currently under way in the United States.

But Ronaldo who had said he was receiving multiple offers from many participating clubs, finally opted to remain loyal to Al Nassr.

After the announcement was made, Ronaldo wrote on Instagram: "A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together.

Key factor

The Portuguese superstar arrived in 2023 in the kingdom to play with the club, heralding a rush of players in the latter stages of their careers to the oil-rich country.

"Ronaldo's presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league in the last two years and a half. He opens the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia," a source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a major investor in Saudi football, told AFP last month.

The oil-funded PIF, the sovereign wealth fund behind a number of big-ticket Saudi investments, controls a group of Pro League clubs including Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ahli.

Ronaldo's announcement in May came just months after Brazilian star Neymar ended his injury-plagued 18-month stay in January, after playing just seven times for Al Hilal - on a reported salary of around $104 million a year.

Although Ronaldo was the Pro League's top scorer with 25 goals, he has been unable to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al Nassr, who lost in the Asian Champions League semi-finals last month.

Last year, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said he could end his career with Al Nassr, the Riyadh team favoured by a number of Saudi royals.

Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo's move, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.

With inputs from AFP

Jai RaiAssistant Editor

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.