In a surprising turn for the global football scene, Cristiano Ronaldo and Saudi club Al-Nassr did not appear among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or for the first time in nearly two decades, marking a notable shift in the award’s landscape. The focus extended beyond the usual favorites as Lionel Messi, the Argentine star who has spent recent seasons with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, also featured prominently in conversations around the prize, underscoring the evolving balance of power among Europe’s elite and the broader world stage.
The Arab football community celebrated a high-stakes finale on August 12, when Al-Nassr faced Archrival Al-Hilal in the Arab Champions Cup final. The match, staged at the King Fahd International Stadium in Taif, delivered drama by going to extra time with a 2-1 scoreline. Ronaldo emerged as the standout, finding the back of the net twice and securing Al-Nassr’s first trophy in this competition. The accomplishment extended Ronaldo’s tally of club honors to 30, highlighting a career marked by persistent trophy accumulation across multiple leagues and continents.
Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr, announced on January 2, 2023, came with a substantial financial package reported to be 200 million euros per year, a figure that underscored the scale of the transfer and the club’s ambition to elevate Saudi Arabian football on the world stage. Beyond the base salary, there were additional bonuses mentioned for Ronaldo and his family, reflecting the comprehensive incentives often associated with major signings in the sport today.
The broader narrative around Ronaldo and Messi has shifted in ways that reflect changing Audiences, markets, and media dynamics. Ronaldo’s decision to join Al-Nassr is frequently discussed in the context of the evolving global football ecosystem, where non-European leagues increasingly attract top talents and viewers from Canada to the United States. This landscape suggests that fans are seeking not only domestic league excellence but also marquee moments that travel well across borders, sparking conversations about legacy, competition, and the future directions of the sport.
As the season progressed, analysts and fans considered what Ronaldo’s continued success at Al-Nassr means for his legacy and for the perception of the Ballon d’Or two decades into its modern era. With Messi continuing to compete at the highest levels and new stars emerging from various leagues, the award conversation has broadened from a Europe-centric focus to a more global dialogue about impact, longevity, and influence. In this shifting context, Al-Nassr’s triumphs add a remarkable chapter to Ronaldo’s storied career, reinforcing his status as one of football’s defining figures while also highlighting the growing importance of international club competition on the world stage.