For the first time since 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo, the veteran striker who represents Portugal on the international stage and recently joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, did not earn a spot in FIFA’s symbolic team of the year. This milestone marks a notable shift in how the world’s best players are recognized, especially after a season that kept fans and analysts watching closely for Ronaldo’s next move and his impact on elite clubs and national team performances.
Following the FIFA Best of the Year ceremony, which took place on February 27, the organization announced the recipients for Player of the Year, Best Coach, Best Goalkeeper, and the rest of the categories. The event highlighted outstanding individual achievements across men’s football, while also revealing the carefully curated XI that would stand as the year’s most influential eleven players from around the globe. Ronaldo, aged 38, who began the 2022/23 season with Manchester United in the English Premier League and later participated in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was not included among these eleven names this time around, underscoring the competitive nature of the award and the emergence of other stars who impressed in different leagues and competitions.
In the international arena, Ronaldo’s country faced disappointment during the World Cup journey, with Portugal exiting at the quarterfinal stage after a 0-1 defeat to Morocco. That result added to the sense that while Ronaldo remains a consequential figure in football, the shifting landscape of the sport has expanded opportunities for other players to shine on football’s biggest stages, including teams that have redefined tactical play and resilience in tournament settings.
Ronaldo found himself without a club in November 2022 after his contract with Manchester United was terminated in a high-profile fallout that drew global attention. The widely reported interview he gave, in which criticism of coaching staff, management decisions, and club policy was aired, contributed to the abrupt end of the partnership. The incident became a talking point for fans and pundits—some defending his unyielding confidence, others questioning whether it would affect his ability to secure a move to another top club. Yet Ronaldo soon moved to Saudi Arabia and signed a contract with Al-Nassr, a deal reported to carry substantial annual earnings and performance-related bonuses that reflected his enduring market value and the league’s eagerness to leverage his celebrity and experience to grow the sport locally and regionally.
The transfer to Al-Nassr signified more than a simple career shift. It represented a broader narrative about a veteran striker adapting to a fresh environment where he could influence both on-field results and the broader marketing and development of football in a rapidly expanding market. The agreement reportedly included significant annual compensation for Ronaldo and additional incentives tied to performance and family considerations, highlighting how top athletes negotiate not only salaries but also long-term lifestyle and brand implications as they chart later-stage careers.
Meanwhile, discussions about Portugal’s squad performance and strategic rotations continued, as the national team balanced the goals of cultivating new talent while relying on seasoned leaders who could guide younger players through the pressures of major tournaments. The absence from the Team of the Year list did not diminish Ronaldo’s status as a global icon; it rather served as a reminder that contemporary football rewards depth, form, and consistency across an entire season and across competitions, sometimes favoring players who have maintained peak form in recent campaigns rather than a single, storied career arc. Observers noted that the competition for places in the symbolic XI was intense, with several players delivering standout campaigns in Europe’s top leagues and continental competitions, reinforcing the idea that excellence in modern football is distributed across more teams and players than ever before.
Beyond the on-field considerations, Ronaldo’s journey reflects the broader dynamics of professional football, where career trajectories are increasingly influenced by strategic moves, league popularity, and national team responsibilities. His transition to a new club in a different region also illustrates how football careers can evolve with sophisticated financial structures, media exposure, and commercial opportunities that come with high-profile transfers. While the symbolic team of the year captures a snapshot of the sport’s top performers, Ronaldo’s career continues to be characterized by longevity, adaptability, and a continued drive to influence the game on multiple stages, from domestic leagues to international showdowns and high-stakes club competitions.
As fans reflect on the year’s awards and the players who earned recognition, the sport’s narrative remains rich with questions about future form, potential comebacks, and the emergence of fresh talents who could redefine standards in the next cycle. Ronaldo’s chapter in this ongoing story shows that even veterans can reinvent themselves in new leagues, while still commanding respect for unparalleled achievements and a lasting impact on football culture in Portugal and around the world.