Contract extension for Cristiano Ronaldo at 40! Al-Nassr superstar ready to prolong 62-goal stint in Saudi Arabia

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is showing no sign of slowing down at 39, with 48 goals recorded through 47 appearances this season. His overall total in the Middle East stands at 62 efforts in 66 games across all competitions.

Ronaldo will turn 40 in February 2025, with his current deal due to expire in the summer of next year. He is working on the most lucrative terms in world football, having moved to Saudi Arabia as a free agent after severing ties with Premier League giants Manchester United.

Al-Nassr are understandably keen to keep Ronaldo’s ability and marketing appeal on their books as they look to make more big signings this summer, with Ben Jacobs telling talkSPORT: “2025 is a really key year in Saudi Arabia for two reasons. One, because Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract expires, although my understanding is that he may renew for one year. And two, the television rights are up for renewal and, as you can imagine, in Egypt with Mohamed Salah and Portugal with Ronaldo and/or Bruno Fernandes, there could well be big audiences and lucrative renewals to be had. Depending on if Ronaldo stays, if Fernandes joins and if Salah arrives, and as a consequence, the next 12 months are all about planning who is going to resonate with the international audience. I am told that the Saudi dealmakers want another marquee star from Portugal because they have built up an audience through Ronaldo. If Fernandes comes in 2025 or, potentially but less likely, 2024 then that is a continuation which means maybe you retain that audience and cash in on that audience when the renewal comes up in 12 months time.”

Portuguese playmaker Fernandes is being linked with his own move away from Manchester United, with Bayern Munich also said to be in the hunt for his signature, while Egypt international Salah is approaching the final year of his contract at Liverpool and may have to be sold in the next transfer window.