GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix were left fuming after Al-Nassr's defeat to Al-Ahli, as a Portuguese director of their opponents sprinted onto the pitch and celebrated with goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi. In doing so, he appeared to brush Felix's arm, and both he and Ronaldo were left angry at his decision to take to the field after their unbeaten run came to an end.
Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been trolled by former Juventus team-mate Merih Demiral after his side lost their unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season. The Portugal international is attempting to win his first league title with Nassr but Al-Ahli dealt them a 3-2 defeat on Friday evening, much to Ronaldo's chagrin.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a poor night in front of goal as Ivan Toney's brace helped Al-Ahli beat Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday. The former Brentford star had put his side 2-0 up before Al-Nassr rallied to level proceedings by half-time, but Merih Demiral's effort ensured Al-Ahli earned the points before two red cards were dished out in stoppage time.
Ex-Manchester City star Joao Cancelo is edging towards another mid-season transfer, with reports indicating the full-back is preparing to leave Al-Hilal when the January window opens. A return to Barcelona has emerged as a realistic possibility, with interest also coming from Italy as Europeâs elite look to bolster their squads.
Cristiano Ronaldo struck a note of defiance after Al-Nassr were forced to settle for a pulsating 2-2 draw against Al-Ettifaq, a result that brought their 10-match winning streak in the Saudi Pro League to an abrupt halt. Ronaldo was again among the goals, extending his astonishing career tally to 957, but it was former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum who ultimately shaped the contest, producing a superb brace to deny the league leaders maximum points.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix were on target for Al-Nassr but ex-Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum stole the limelight with an incredible brace as Al-Ettifaq held Al-Nassr to a thrilling 2-2 draw to ended their 10-game winning streak in the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo took his career goals tally to 957 with an unusual effort as Felix's shot deflected off his back and went in.
Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund has revealed why Cristiano Ronaldo is his biggest idol. The Dane has followed in Ronaldo's famous footsteps by playing for the Red Devils but is currently shining with Napoli after moving to the Serie A side on a season-long loan. Hojlund says that he has always been a big admirer of Ronaldo's mentality, rock solid confidence and hunger for goals.
Paul Pogba has thanked former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo while accepting his Best Comeback Award at a special ceremony. The French midfielder was banned for four years after testing positive for high testosterone levels while playing for Juventus in September 2023 but after his suspension was reduced to 18 months, he made his return to football at Monaco after 811 days out of the sport.
The January transfer window is fast approaching, and clubs will once again be scrambling to strengthen for the second half of the season. In the 2025 winter market, ÂŁ1.2 billion ($1.4bn) was spent across Europe's top leagues and the English Championship, the highest mark in seven years, with Manchester City accounting for ÂŁ191 million ($256m) of that amount alone.
Antonio Rudiger could return to Chelsea as the Real Madrid star is weighing up a Premier League return. Rudiger's current Los Blancos contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 campaign and he has yet to agree to sign on a new extension. The German defender has been tipped with a move away from Santiago Bernabeu next summer as he could also link up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
Vinicius Juniorâs Real Madrid future is under fresh scrutiny after stalled contract talks left the Brazilian weighing his options, with Saudi Arabia circling. Al-Ittihad sporting director Ramon Planes has now made a bold prediction, insisting it is realistic that elite players like Vinicius could move to the Middle East during their prime years.
Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly wants to put aside his long-running rivalry with Lionel Messi and play out his career with him at Inter Miami. The two sporting icons are among the greatest footballers to ever play the game but they have often been pitted against one another this century. But as the 40-year-old contemplates life after Al-Nassr, speculation is mounting that he may want to be Messi's team-mate in Major League Soccer in one last hurrah.
Cristiano Ronaldo starred with a brace on Saturday night as Al-Nassr registered a record 10th consecutive win in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese legend scored twice, while Joao Felix added a third, as the Saudi giants beat Al Akhdoud 3-0 and increased their lead over Al-Hilal at the top of the table to four points after collecting 30 from their first 10 outings in the 2025-26 campaign.
Robert Lewandowski has reportedly moved a step closer to leaving Barcelona as his representatives prepare to hold a fresh round of talks with the Saudi Pro League over a lucrative move to the Middle East. The Poland international is also being courted by Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire ahead of his contract expiring at the end of the season.
Ronaldo took his first tentative steps down that path while on the books of Manchester United, having joined the Red Devils from Sporting in 2003. He won the Premier League title at Old Trafford, along with the first of five Champions League crowns and a handful of Ballons dâOr.
Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to become the first player in history to score 1,000 professional goals, but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez does not view it as a "goal". The Portugal captain, whose career has been defined by shattered records and relentless ambition, has his sights set on finishing at the very top, yet those closest to him insist the pursuit of the landmark milestone is not driving his every move.
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly splashed out an eye-popping ÂŁ7 million to buy two properties on a secluded private island off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The 40-year-old Portugal and Al-Nassr superstar has purchased two villas costing approximately ÂŁ3.5m each at the exclusive Nujuma resort which is located in middle of the Red Sea and is only accessible by seaplane or boat.
Lionel Messi has been a sporting sensation in the United States, with the history books being rewritten by the Argentine at Inter Miami, but MLS has been told that Cristiano Ronaldo would have made an even greater impact than his âvery quietâ eternal rival. Portuguese GOAT CR7 favoured a Saudi Arabian adventure over pursuit of the American dream.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a timely boost in his bid for Saudi Pro League title glory, with Al-Nassr seeing a transfer ban lifted by FIFA. World footballâs governing body had announced that a number of teams in the Middle East would be prevented from registering new players across several windows. Ronaldo and Co no longer form part of that pack.
Vinicius Junior has been advised to ânot do what Neymar didâ when it comes to pushing for a move away from a European superpower. The Brazil international remains tied to Real Madrid for now, but talk of a transfer to the Saudi Pro League being completed refuses to go away. Fellow countryman Sandro believes Vinicius should stay put and compete for future Ballons dâOr.
Mason Greenwood has been applauded for the âagainst all oddsâ impact that he has made in French football. World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf, who is a Marseille native, has told GOAL why the former Manchester United forward deserves immense credit for what he has achieved at Stade Velodrome. He has also addressed the transfer talk that Greenwood continues to generate.
Real Madrid have been advised to do "everything possibleâ to sell Vinicius Junior if he demands a contract similar to Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. The Brazilian forward is not considered to be deserving of such terms, with the Blancos needing to move him on - amid interest from the Saudi Pro League - as no player is bigger than the Liga heavyweights.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr have been slapped with a transfer ban by FIFA ahead of the January window. The governing body updated its official register on Friday, listing the Saudi Pro League side among clubs prohibited from registering new players. December 19 has been cited as the start date of the sanction, though no conclusion has been provided.
Arne Slot will not speak about Mohamed Salah while the Liverpool forward competes at the Africa Cup of Nations, saying both he and the Egypt star have âmoved onâ following his incendiary interview earlier this month. The Reds manager has issued his stance on the eve of his sideâs trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
Cristiano Ronaldo will, much like eternal rival Lionel Messi, want to be "the number one" when the day comes to retire. Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo admits as much, with Portuguese GOAT CR7 not ready for the "last word" just yet. He still has targets to chase down, with the plan being to compete for World Cup glory in the summer of 2026.
Actor Tyrese Gibson on Thursday shared a photo of football icon Cristiano Ronaldo posing with the cast of the eleventh installment of Vin Dieselâs Fast and Furious franchise on the sets of the film. This has fuelled another intense round of speculation about a possible on-screen role for the five-time Ballon dâOr winner as he prepares for life beyond football.
Georgina Rodriguez has opened up on her engagement to Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo after nearly nine years together. The 31-year-old announced the news on Instagram back in August, posting a picture of a large diamond ring alongside the caption: "Yes I do. In this and in all my lives." The couple met in a Gucci shop in Madrid where Rodriguez was working while Ronaldo was playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo's son showed off finishing prowess as he scored the only goal for Al-Nassr Under-16s in a draw with Al-Ittihad on Tuesday. Cristiano Jr's football career continues to progress in the Middle East after he followed in his legendary father's footsteps and joined the Saudi giants' youth system in 2023.