Ronaldo at 40: Ageless Icon Dominates Saudi Football and Global Stardom

Cristiano Ronaldo BioSnap a weekly updated Biography. Cristiano Ronaldo remains as much a phenomenon off the field as on it, and the past few days have amplified that truth. Making headlines on September 26, 2025, the 40-year-old scored again for Al Nassr, netting the second goal in a 2-0 win over rivals Al Ittihad to maintain their perfect start in the Saudi Pro League according to the Times of India. That match also saw a viral social moment: cameras captured N’Golo Kanté walking past Ronaldo without a handshake, causing a buzz online, but Ronaldo stayed composed and let his performance do the talking. Ronaldo’s fitness and minutes are being tightly managed by Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus, who openly explained to World Soccer Talk that the star will skip their AFC Champions League 2 tie against Al Zawraa in Iraq, a calculated rest to preserve him for big moments ahead and for Portugal’s World Cup qualifiers. He had just come off a pivotal stint, bagging his 104th goal for Al Nassr and keeping alive his chase for the mythical 1,000-goal mark. Businesswise, Ronaldo is setting new standards: he remains Saudi Arabia’s highest-paid athlete with Forbes pegging his annual earnings at $225 million from Al Nassr alone, not counting millions more from global endorsements and a personal net worth estimated between $600 million and $1 billion, as revealed by the Times of India. His CR7 brand stretches from hotels and luxury gyms to fashion and supplements, while his latest commercial appearance sees him starring in a high-profile promotional film for Saudi Arabia’s national events calendar, a role The Business Standard highlighted as part of the kingdom’s broader yearlong celebration campaign. Ronaldo’s deepening ties to Saudi Arabia were made unmistakably clear when he posted an emotional Instagram tribute for the kingdom’s 95th National Day—assuring fans not just of his happiness but of his intention to make the country his long-term home, according to the Times of India. On social media, Cristiano Ronaldo remains dominant, topping HypeAuditor’s September 2025 global athlete rankings with nearly 665 million Instagram followers. His posts—mixing match highlights, luxury lifestyle glimpses, and family moments—regularly amass millions of likes and set online trends, as confirmed by the Times of India and highlighted on YouTube channels dedicated to his social media impact. Looking ahead, he’ll next don the Portugal kit for World Cup qualifier duty versus Ireland on October 11, with preparation and freshness as the club’s priority. Even as Ronaldo advances in age, his every move—be it a game-winning header, a contract extension to 2027, or a major brand campaign—continues to shape football’s present and its future legend. Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.