The Ronaldo–Saudi Domino Effect: Is He Really Leaving, and What Does It Mean for Saudi Football and the Global Game?
Everyone has seen the reports: Cristiano Ronaldo launched what is being described as an “Italian strike,” skipped Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League match, and is also expected to miss the next game. The football world immediately jumped into speculation mode = where next? A romantic return to Sporting? A “fixing the past” move back to Manchester United? Or even an MLS contract alongside Lionel Messi?
But before diving into how serious these rumors are and what Ronaldo’s next destination might be, it’s crucial to understand the dramatic domino effect that unfolded over the final two days of the Saudi winter transfer window in 2026 - a chain reaction involving some of the biggest names of the last generation, now threatening the very structure of the Saudi football project in its current form.
The winter transfer window in Saudi Arabia had been relatively quiet. Until the final days, only 15 deals had been completed, most of them involving no major names.
But beneath the surface, in Jeddah, the ground began to shake.
After two months of negotiations between reigning champions Al-Ittihad Jeddah and their biggest star, Karim Benzema, talks collapsed. According to sources within the club, Al-Ittihad wanted to free up budget space and asked Benzema to restructure his contract: no fixed base salary, only performance-based pay and commercial deals arranged by the club, based on “image rights” usage.
Benzema — who, since arriving in summer 2023, had become the most powerful figure in the club (involved in coaching appointments, dismissals, and recruitment decisions) - felt disrespected. He took it personally and decided to leave.
It’s important to remember: the four major Saudi clubs: Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli, are all owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). Benzema escalated the issue to league officials and PIF representatives, and suddenly, Al-Hilal entered the picture. Because of the scale and cost of the deal, one of the world’s richest Saudis and a lifelong Al-Hilal fan, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, stepped in to help finance the transfer. Benzema became an Al-Hilal player.
That’s when the real chaos began.
Cristiano Ronaldo watched as the fund enabled a massive move that significantly strengthened Al-Hilal - Al-Nassr’s direct city rival and main title competitor - in a league title race he himself has still not won.
Part of the anger stemmed from the fact that Al-Nassr’s only winter signing was Haidar Abdulkarim from the Iraqi league. Another part, according to sources in Saudi Arabia, was Ronaldo’s belief that PIF invests more heavily in Al-Hilal than in Al-Nassr.
His frustration turned into action: Ronaldo boycotted the cup match against Al-Riyadh (which Al-Nassr won 1–0), and according to unverified reports, even left Saudi Arabia for Portugal, refusing to return until the situation changes.
At the same time, N’Golo Kanté, seeing his close friend Benzema leave and Ronaldo “breaking the system”, also decided he was done. He boycotted Al-Ittihad training to force a move to Fenerbahçe. The Turkish club wanted to offload Youssef En-Nesyri, and there was an attempt to arrange a swap deal: Kanté for En-Nesyri. The deal reportedly collapsed due to Al-Ittihad failing to submit documents on time before the window closed. Eventually, both clubs requested exceptional approval to complete the transfer, and received it.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal fans began circulating posters mocking Ronaldo’s disappearance. By Wednesday afternoon, reports started emerging that Ronaldo had returned to Al-Nassr training and was present at the club’s offices — but would not take part in the upcoming match against Al-Ittihad.
Still, the cloud hanging over his future is impossible to ignore.
On the eve of his 41st birthday, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see Saudi Arabia keeping him long-term beyond next season. Officially, Ronaldo has a playing contract until next year, and a separate deal as a Saudi tourism and PR ambassador until 2028. He played a key role in Saudi Arabia winning the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup, and was recently seen accompanying Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to the White House.
So, will Ronaldo leave Saudi Arabia mid-season? Unlikely.
Will the Public Investment Fund reshuffle the resources in the summer, strengthen Al-Nassr, and re-balance the project around him? Very possible.
But either way, it’s entirely plausible that what we witnessed over the last 48 hours was the opening act in Cristiano Ronaldo’s eventual farewell from Saudi football — a saga that could have direct consequences for emerging leagues led by the MLS, and for European football as well.
To be continued.
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