Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is at the forefront of world football discussion again. At 40 years old, the Portuguese legend has just put together another scintillating season with Al-Nassr, where he scored over 25 goals in the Saudi Pro League and won his second golden boot in this league. Along with that he won his second UEFA Nations League trophy for Portugal while proving he is still one of the fiercest forwards in the game. As his contract is set to expire on June 30 with the Saudi side Al Nassr, the rumour mill is running rampant.
Based on reports, insider leaks, movements in the betting market, and official club stances, we at 96.com have the five most likely destinations for Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2025 if he doesn’t continue with Al Nassr.
1. Al Hilal
The Saudi giants, Al Hilal has positioned itself as the favourite to land Cristiano Ronaldo when his Al-Nassr deal runs out, especially with Neymar, who has already left the club and Al Hilal aggressively looking for marquee signings. Al Hilal are believed to be preparing one of the most lucrative football contracts in history. They are hell-bent on being dominant in the domestic and continental competitions and look at 5-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo as the last piece to complete their attack.
Saudi media have indicated that preliminary talks have taken place, and bookmakers have now installed Al Hilal as the outright favourite in the chase. The club is robust, having shown its willingness to spend on high-level stars very recently.
2. Sporting CP
A return to Sporting CP is still one of the most debated and emotionally appealing eventualities. The 5-time UCL winner Ronaldo began his career at Sporting before making the life-altering move to Manchester United in 2003. Twenty years later, the club qualified for the UEFA Champions League and is in a position to make a flexible offer.
The Portuguese press has hinted that Sporting’s board and Ronaldo’s team have had exploratory conversations. Coming home to Lisbon would carry great symbolic weight, as well as giving Ronaldo another opportunity to end his career in European football at its highest level with 1000 goals, which would be his next target, along with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The betting odds have shifted in favour of a return to Portugal, with Sporting now one of the most likely clubs to acquire the superstar if he seeks to finish his career in Europe.
3. Chelsea FC
In the past couple of days, the name Chelsea has been trending following the comments from a former club legend, John Obi Mikel, who publicly urged the club to pursue Ronaldo. He may have shut the door on all Club World Cup proposals, but there are rumblings that the Premier League outfit could now pursue a short-term enrolment with Ronaldo, completely independent of the aforementioned tournament.
Considering the Blues are still working on a rebuild of their squad and are short of leadership through the middle-third of the field, the Portuguese ace striker Ronaldo would provide the kind of star power and global attention that Chelsea and Stamford Bridge desire. Club insiders have also suggested that the owners of Chelsea are in favour of a surprise marquee signing this summer, with intermediaries potentially enabling discussions even in the absence of an official bid being tabled.
No official offer has been made yet, but Chelsea has arguably the name most definitely in the conversation.
4. Botafogo
Botafogo has held conversations with the representatives of Ronaldo and is still interested in signing the forward on a short-term or flexible deal, though he won’t be involved with the FIFA Club World Cup. The Brazilian side wants to become a global brand with American investor John Textor’s backing, and Ronaldo could fit into their aspirations.
Sources from South America have verified that talks even continued after Ronaldo himself stated he would not be doing the FIFA Club World Cup. Considering Botafogo’s ongoing play in the Brasileirão and that they are pursuing more continental attention, the club is a good potential place for Ronaldo to play, if he is up for ambition! Botafogo has not put out an official proposal yet, but the intention of wanting to sign Ronaldo is still real and serious.
5. Monterrey
Liga MX’s Monterrey is the latest potential suitor. Various Spanish and Mexican sources have noted the link between the Mexican club to Ronaldo, especially with the possible role of Sergio Ramos, who could join the club in a player-ambassador or coaching role.
Reports have suggested that the Monterrey board is looking for a novel contract to allow Ronaldo to play in Mexico, while also serving as the league’s global ambassador. At this point, it is only in the planning phase, but there have been reports that there has been internal planning for a number of weeks now.
While there has been no official public word from either side, the news of Monterrey’s interest has raised eyebrows in both Latin America and Europe as well.
Conclusion
The Portuguese highest goal scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo’s next step is more than a transfer, it’s going to attract eyes from all over the world. Whether it is continuing a legacy in Sporting, ambition in Al Hilal, or a bolt out of the blue to Brazil or Mexico, the destination Ronaldo will choose will dominate football headlines around the world.
At 96.com, we have all bases covered; we are tracking every rumour, every comment and every twist and turn in this story. From talk of a deal to confirmed discussions to the final signing, we will have every little detail on Ronaldo contained here.
