Near Retirement, Cristiano Ronaldo Reportedly Eyes Major Move to Buy Al-Nassr

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo has said that 2026 is probably his final year in football, while suggesting he may retire from playing in 2027. Several media outlets report that he could join a group led by RedBird Capital and its chief Gerry Cardinale, which is seeking to acquire 70% of Al-Nassr for about $267 million, with Ronaldo taking a stake. Saudi Arabia’s PIF is reportedly preparing the club for a possible sale by settling 800 million riyals in debt, although a source close to the fund called RedBird’s interest premature and Ronaldo is said to have concerns about the club’s administrative problems and lack of long-term vision. Ronaldo has scored 126 goals for Al-Nassr and already owns 25% of Spanish second-division side UD Almería; the parties hope to conclude talks by the end of the season.