Has Ronaldo's Move To Saudi Arabia Diminished His Football Legacy?

Cristiano Ronaldo left his country Portugal for England when he was just eighteen. His extraordinary football talent attracted the Manchester United FC hierarchy and in 2003, they signed him from Sporting Lisbon FC. He played for them, winning several football laurels, including the UEFA Champions League and English Premier League before he was snapped by Real Madrid FC of Spain. At Madrid, he surpassed his achievements with Manchester United. He currently is the 2nd highest winner of the Balloon D’or, apart from Lionel Messi. He has won five UEFA Champions League titles and five Balloon D’or. Ronaldo is the highest goal scorer in Real Madrid's history but like always, he moved. His next destination was Italy where he joined the old lady, Juventus FC and he also excelled with them. In 2020, Ronaldo returned to England and re-joined Manchester United FC. He did excellently in the first season, emerging as the club’s highest goal scorer for the season and amongst the highest goal scorers in the English Premier League. He did not complete his second season and had his contract terminated just before after the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup after some disagreements with Coach Erik Ten Hag. 

Cristiano Ronaldo's Move To Saudi Arabia

Whilst tongues were wagging on what his next destination would be, it was announced that Ronaldo had joined al Nasser of Saudi Arabia. It was a very lucrative financial offer from the Saudi club and possibly to further convince him, several other world football icons were lured with fat cash to join Ronaldo. It marked the beginning of the Saudi Arabian football Revolution and Cristiano Ronaldo became the star boy! Lionel Messi rejected the offer to move to Saudi Arabia, but Neymar, Karim Benzema, and several others obliged. Some critics believe his move was just about money and that it would not enhance his football legacies. A critical analysis implies the opposite. Cristian Ronaldo has won everything in football except the FIFA World Cup. 

The Rationale of Cristiano Ronaldo's Move

Making the move to Saudi Arabia at the twilight of his career appears the best thing to have happened to his football career! Had he remained in Europe and with his huge financial demands, very few clubs would have been able to afford him. Rather, they would prefer a younger player with less risk of injury and no worries about managing the ego that most players of Ronaldo’s profile carry. Even with his fitness and positive work ethic, it remains contentious if he'd have been able to match the tactical demands and constant competition for positions synonymous with the volatile European leagues compared to the freedom he enjoys in Saudi Arabia. The quality of the Saudi Arabian league puts him under lesser pressure whilst enjoying the benefits of dazzling the less technically gifted players with his exquisite skills and experience. Apart from building another positive football profile for himself in Saudi Arabia, by hopefully winning laurels, the annals of football history would immensely credit his contributions to the Saudi Arabian Football Revolution.