Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football superstar and the all-time leading international goalscorer, reaffirmed his belief in Saudi Arabia’s potential, saying his decision to live in the Kingdom was based on faith and trust in its future.
Speaking at the Saudi Tourism Forum 2025 in Riyadh on Tuesday, November 11, Ronaldo said:
“I consider myself Saudi and I contribute to different sectors of this country. Now everyone understands that my decision to move to Riyadh was the right one.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner expressed his admiration for the historic city of AlUla and the ambitious Red Sea project, hoping to play a role in Saudi Arabia’s broader development vision. He added:
“I believe in the strength, ambition, and vision of Saudi Arabia’s development. It’s an amazing country to live in, full of peace and security.”
Ronaldo, who announced in June 2024 that he plans to live in Saudi Arabia for the rest of his life, explained that this was one of the key reasons behind extending his contract with Al Nassr.
Al Nassr had previously confirmed that the Portugal captain extended his contract with the club until 2027, meaning he will stay with the Saudi giants beyond the age of 42.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in December 2022 as a free agent after parting ways with Manchester United. Since then, he has scored 99 goals for the club.
In a video released by Al Nassr, Ronaldo said:
“My family always supports my decisions. We have a beautiful life in Saudi Arabia, and people here treat us with great respect and kindness. That’s why we want to stay and continue our life here.”
