Cristiano Ronaldo is currently on strike at Al-Nassr, refusing to play in the club's most recent match on Monday. The 41-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday, is reportedly furious after Karim Benzema controversially joined Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr's title rivals, on a free transfer following the termination of his contract with Al-Ittihad. All three clubs are owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and while sources insist no rules were broken, the move has left Ronaldo incensed, with Al-Hilal now leading the Saudi Pro League by one point.
The fallout has raised fears that Ronaldo could leave Saudi Arabia, bringing his long-term future into question. This is not the first time the Portuguese forward has clashed with those in charge. During his second spell at Manchester United, he fell out with manager Erik ten Hag and criticised the club's hierarchy in a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. In September 2024, he said of Ten Hag: 'You can't rebuild a club you don't understand.'
Ronaldo also had a famous dispute with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2008, accusing United of making him a 'slave' over a proposed move to Real Madrid. Ferguson flew to Portugal to smooth things over, delaying the transfer by a year. More recently, Ronaldo parted ways with long-time agent Jorge Mendes in December 2022 after his acrimonious exit from United. Despite the split, Mendes revealed they remain close, saying: 'Cristiano will always be in my heart.'
Regarding retirement, Ronaldo has stated he will not hang up his boots until he scores his 1,000th career goal; he currently has 961. He has also expressed a desire to play alongside his son, Cristiano Jr., who is currently in Al-Nassr's under-15 side. That partnership could materialise as early as next season, lining up with Ronaldo's contract, which runs until June 2027. This summer will also mark his final World Cup campaign as he bids to win one of the few trophies he has never lifted.
