At 40, with a record-breaking contract worth $250 million a year until 2027, Ronaldo could have chosen a comfortable, controversy-free path. He could have ignored the injustice, played without resistance, enjoyed the adulation and calmly chased the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals.
But that was not the path chosen by CR7. Instead, he chose to stop, to protest, and to confront an entire power structure in the pursuit of fairness for his team. His decision shows that his desire to win and his professional pride remain intact, even at the end of his career.
The history of football has seen many player strikes, but most have been driven by personal interests: demands for higher wages, contract terminations or forced transfers. It is extremely rare for a player to risk everything not for personal gain, but because his team is not supported enough to compete for titles. Ronaldo’s case stands out precisely for this.
At the heart of the issue is his frustration with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which oversees both Al Nassr and their fiercest rivals, Al Hilal. With the vision of a player who has spent two decades at the highest level, Ronaldo could not accept Al Nassr being treated like a second-class club.
While Al Nassr only brought in one 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder, Haydeer Abdulkareem, during the winter transfer window, Al Hilal were generously strengthened. The Riyadh giants have added European names such as Pablo MarÃ, young talent Kader Meïté, and have even been linked with Karim Benzema. The imbalance was impossible to ignore.
Ronaldo understands that football is a collective game built on depth and investment. No matter how exceptional he is, even if he is second in the league’s scoring charts with 17 goals, he cannot single-handedly lead an undersized team into a long title race. The owner’s silence in response to manager Jorge Jesus’ requests for reinforcements became the straw that broke the camel’s back.
By refusing to play, Ronaldo effectively issued an ultimatum on behalf of the coach and his teammates: respect our efforts by creating a fair and competitive environment. His actions show that he did not come to Saudi Arabia to end his career, but to win. With Al Nassr trailing Al Hilal by just three points in the standings, surrender was never an option.
Viewed from a broader perspective, Ronaldo’s position goes beyond Al Nassr. It touches on the very credibility and future quality of the Saudi Pro League. A league that aspires to global status cannot thrive under favoritism, where political power or ownership preferences determine outcomes before the ball is kicked.
Ronaldo is using his immense global influence to expose cracks in the PIF’s management approach. He stands alongside colleagues whose authority has been inexplicably weakened, including sporting director Simão Coutinho and chief executive José Semedo. He also implicitly defends coach Jorge Jesus, who previously dared to talk about Al Hilal’s “political power” and now faces heavy sanctions. In an environment where many fear questioning ownership, Ronaldo’s voice becomes a shield for the integrity of football.
He knows the compromise would still bring him wealth and personal bests, but it would leave the league little more than a playground for the oil-backed royals, with other teams reduced to secondary roles in a predetermined script. By striking, it forces decision makers to reflect: a truly compelling championship requires fairness.
This courage can bring criticism, controversy and even damage to the carefully crafted image of professionalism that Ronaldo has built over decades. Yet he accepts this risk, because for Cristiano Ronaldo victory only counts when it is earned in a fair fight.
Sources: Znews
