RIYADH – The end of an era may be approaching for one of football’s greatest icons. Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly planning to leave Al-Nassr in the summer of 2027, coinciding with the expiration of his contract. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the 40-year-old Portuguese legend is seriously considering retirement after his stint in the Saudi Pro League concludes.
While Ronaldo remains in peak physical condition and continues to dominate goalscoring charts, the 2026 World Cup is widely expected to be his final major tournament with Portugal before he hangs up his boots for good.
The Race for 1,000 Goals
Despite being in the twilight of his career, “CR7” is still fueled by an obsession with history. The striker is currently chasing the unprecedented milestone of 1,000 career goals.
- Current Count: 960 goals.
- The Target: 40 goals to go.
Given his current scoring rate, reaching the four-digit mark before 2027 is highly probable. This season alone, Ronaldo has netted 22 goals in 25 appearances for club and country, proving that his clinical edge remains sharp even as he enters his fifth decade.
Frustration at Al-Nassr
Despite his individual brilliance, Ronaldo’s time in Saudi Arabia has been marked by a lack of silverware. Al-Nassr recently lost their grip on the top spot of the Saudi Pro League to a rampant Al-Hilal side, now led by Simone Inzaghi.
With a seven-point gap separating them from the leaders, the pressure is on Ronaldo to secure an official trophy before his departure, having lost several high-profile finals since arriving in the Middle East.
Individual Brilliance in 2025/26
Ronaldo’s statistics for the current campaign remain world-class:
- Al-Nassr: 20 matches, 17 goals, 3 assists.
- Portugal: 5 matches, 5 goals (a perfect 1.0 goal-per-game average).
As the world prepares for the 2026 World Cup, fans are beginning to realize that every match could be one of the last opportunities to see the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in action. If 2027 is indeed the end, Ronaldo seems determined to go out at the very top of the scoring charts.
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
