Ronaldo Wants to Join Malcom: All for One Last Epic Battle with Messi

Cristiano is hungry for trophies.

In two years in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to win any significant titles besides the semi-friendly Arab Club Champions Cup. Competing in the Pro League has proven challenging against Al Hilal and Al Ittihad. In the AFC Champions League, Ronaldo and Al Nassr haven’t reached the later stages yet.

Ronaldo and trophies are nearly synonymous. CR7 has been collecting cups since his Sporting days, never leaving a country without a memorable medal. However, a championship title seems out of reach this season for the “great one.” By early January, Stefano Pioli’s team trails Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad by 11 points. It is 10 points behind Malcom, Neymar, and the other stars of Al Hilal.

Ronaldo is seriously considering his options, with his contract set to expire this summer. Rumors abound: some say Ronaldo is determined to win a coveted trophy with his current club before hanging up his boots with a clear conscience; others speculate he’d be satisfied with surpassing the 1,000-goal milestone. There’s even talk of a romantic return to Sporting for his career’s twilight or perhaps waiting for an invitation from Guardiola to join Manchester City.

But a fresh report from talkSPORT has introduced a new twist: the Al Nassr captain is reportedly interested in joining their fierce rivals and direct competitors, Riyadh neighbors Al Hilal. And not just for the titles. Allegedly, Ronaldo is aiming for one last showdown with Messi — at the Club World Cup, where both Al-Hilal and Inter Miami have qualified.

The revamped tournament will occur in the summer of 2025, from June 15 to July 13. The 32 participating clubs have already been divided into groups. Cristiano’s potential new team would face none other than Real Madrid in their group stage. What more can be said? It would, undoubtedly, be legendary. And, at the moment, this scenario seems the most realistic.

After all, Cristiano — despite his personal qualities — is unlikely to be overly concerned about the feelings of Al Nassr fans. Scoring his 1,000th goal with Al Hilal would be easier. A move to Manchester City feels far-fetched, and a return to Sporting can wait until after a clash with Messi, a Pro League title, and hitting that 1,000-goal mark. It’s an almost perfect plan for Ronaldo, considering he’ll turn 40 in a month.

Published by Patrick Jane
08.01.2025