Does Cristiano Ronaldo need to leave Al-Nassr after 50-goal season? Portuguese given ‘new challenges’ transfer advice in order to play into his 40s

The Portuguese superstar will celebrate a notable birthday on February 9, 2025 and still has a year left to run on his current contract in Saudi Arabia. He has offered no indication of that deal – which remains the most lucrative in world football - being cut short.

Ronaldo may, however, become a free agent next summer and face another big career call. With there talk of him playing through to the 2026 World Cup, fresh terms will be required somewhere. Pearce, who was playing second tier football at 40 years of age, believes a fresh start may help to keep CR7 hungry.

Ex-England international Pearce – who spent 12 years at Nottingham Forest before moving on to Newcastle, West Ham and Manchester City – has told talkSPORT of Ronaldo prolonging a record-breaking playing career: “It won't be easy for him. He wants to play as long as he can and I admire him for that. Obviously he doesn't need the money, that is for sure. So to keep driving on and striving on, I admire that. I would say to him, as long as you're physically fit, keep going. He's playing in a much different position to me.

“I finished when I was 40, but I was a defender. It's a lot easier being a defender, I think, than it is a forward trying to create things. And you need that burst of pace and energy. My game was about maybe reading it and you could get away with it a little bit more. But when you look at Ronaldo, just incredible. For me, a big one for me, I'd been at a club for 12 years at the age of 35. Then I got a move, changed clubs to Newcastle, then changed clubs a couple of times. I had three clubs in five years, which is unusual for me. I'd been at one club for 12 years and looking back now, that was the big inspiration for me. It was a new challenge. He has to keep looking for new challenges, I think, to spur himself on.”

Ronaldo has spent time with Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr – picking up Golden Boots in four different countries. He is currently on Euro 2024 duty with Portugal – at his 11th major tournament – and is showing no sign of slowing down after hitting 50 goals in the Middle East last season.