Cristiano Ronaldo is the biggest brand in world football. Nobody has more followers, nobody earns more.For this, CR7 sold his soul and made a pact with those in power. The reward: Despite the red card against Ireland, he is allowed to play from the start at the World Cup.
Published: 4:38 p.m
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Updated: 24 minutes ago
Christian Finkbeiner
Stv. Football manager
It stands a few hundred meters outside of Funchal city center, overlooking the marina. 3.40 m tall, weighing 800 kilos,
From Football King to Political Pawn? ronaldo’s Saudi Deal Sparks Controversy
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr has sent shockwaves through the football world, but the deal is raising eyebrows beyond the pitch. The transfer, reportedly worth a staggering €200 million per year, has ignited a debate about “sportswashing” and the Kingdom’s attempts to rebrand its image on the global stage.
For Ronaldo, the move represents a lucrative final chapter in a glittering career. At 37, the Portuguese superstar is past his prime, and opportunities at top European clubs where dwindling. Al-Nassr offered a financial package that was simply too good to refuse.
Though, critics argue that Ronaldo has become a willing participant in a strategy to divert attention from Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. The country has been heavily criticized for its treatment of dissidents, restrictions on women’s rights, and its involvement in the war in Yemen. By investing heavily in sports – hosting Formula 1 races, the Italian Super cup, and now attracting footballing icons – Saudi Arabia is attempting to present a more modern and appealing face to the world.
The parallels to other controversial sporting events,like the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,are stark. Many see Ronaldo’s transfer as a similar tactic: using the power of sport to normalize a regime with a questionable record.
Ronaldo himself has largely remained silent on the political implications of his move,focusing rather on his excitement about the sporting project at Al-Nassr. He has stated his desire to inspire the next generation in Saudi Arabia and contribute to the growth of football in the country.
But the questions remain. Can sport truly be separated from politics? And is Ronaldo, knowingly or unknowingly, lending his considerable influence to a regime accused of “sportswashing”? The debate is likely to continue as long as Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in the world of sports.
[Image of Donald Trump and Cristiano Ronaldo]
The situation highlights a growing trend in global football, where financial power is shifting away from customary European leagues and towards countries with vast wealth and a willingness to spend it. Weather this is a positive development for the game remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia has opened a Pandora’s Box of ethical and political considerations.
Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia, and the Geopolitics of Football
Financially, the pact with the powerful was worth it for Cristiano Ronaldo, and it is also acceptable that the league boom has leveled off again. Several stars returned with full wallets, but disillusioned with sports – ronaldo stayed, the whole thing is too lucrative, after all, the superstar’s every wish is fulfilled. Even though it is indeed illegal for unmarried couples to live together in Saudi Arabia, an exception was made for the superstar and his girlfriend Georgina.
The calculation also worked out for the Saudis, as the 2034 World Cup will take place in the desert state, just twelve years after Qatar – thanks to the strong support of FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino, who rolled out the red carpet for the Saudis with a few clever moves. The payback for the world association is great.DAZN bought the TV rights to the Club world Cup for a billion dollars, after which the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF bought a minority stake in DAZN…for a billion dollars.
FIFA signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the Saudi oil and gas company Aramco,and a few days ago the world association announced that the Saudi Fund for development would provide loans worth one billion for the construction or modernization of stadiums worldwide. However, Saudi Arabia still has to wait until it owns the big football stage.then, at the 2034 world Cup, Ronaldo won’t be playing anymore either, even he – the one who seems to be playing forever – has announced that.
The world Cup in North America next summer will be his last. And CR7 is also being heavily used by those in power for this. On november 18th he visited the White House in Washington with his girlfriend. At US President Donald Trump’s state banquet for the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman,Ronaldo also took his place and shared this with his worldwide followers via selfie. According to the DPA news agency, he broke the one billion follower mark on social networks in 2024. Also in the photo: Elon Musk – and of course Infantino shouldn’t be missing either.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s $50 Million Jet Lifestyle
Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t just play like a superstar – he travels like one too. The football icon owns a Gulfstream G650 jet, and it’s worth around $50 million. It’s how he gets around the world for games and vacations.