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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Evergreen frontman now 39 years of age</li><li>Into final year of his contract at Al-Nassr</li><li>Predicted to play on for some time yet</li></ul>

'I was gobsmacked' - Cristiano Ronaldo retirement date revealed by former Man Utd team-mate Rio Ferdinand

The evergreen Portuguese <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/records-follow-me-cristiano-ronaldo-reacts-more-history-al-nassr-superstar-50-goals-season/blt6adf896e2fd67e6e" target="_blank">scored 50 goals for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr</a> last season and was on target when <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-al-taawoun-saudi-super-cup-semi-final/bltfa422f084c23018e" target="_blank">helping to fire them into the final of the Super Cup</a> during his first outing of 2024-25. He did <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/selfish-tears-cristiano-ronaldo-savaged-sam-allardyce-roberto-martinez-not-brave-portugal-euro2024/blt19ad1f605d554c93" target="_blank">go goalless through Euro 2024</a>, as questions were asked of his ability to compete at the very highest level, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has made a record-breaking career out of silencing any doubters.

WHAT HAPPENED?

There has been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/revealed-when-cristiano-ronaldo-will-finish-what-happen-before-al-nassr-superstar-considers-retirement/blt8011b8d00e7c2578" target="_blank">talk of Ronaldo playing through to the 2026 World Cup</a>, having already earned 212 international caps, with there more history for him to make before hanging up his boots. The all-time great has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-explains-why-retirement-some-way-off-891-goal-al-nassr-portugal-superstar-young-lions/blt3c851c27976c58fe" target="_blank">made no public statement regarding his future</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ferdinand, though, claims to have inside knowledge regarding his illustrious ex-Old Trafford colleague. He has told <a href="https://x.com/rioferdy5/status/1823669377692008762 " target="_blank">‘Rio Reacts’</a> of when CR7 could call it quits: “I can’t give too much away but I’ve been doing a few bits with Cristiano behind the scenes and he’s playing as long as he wants. He ain’t going nowhere. And I was gobsmacked. And listen, you’ll see it in time, but minimum three years I think he plays for again.”

WHAT FERDINAND SAID

Ronaldo is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/contract-extension-cristiano-ronaldo-40-al-nassr-superstar-prolong-62-goal-stint-saudi-arabia/blt9b5fe85776a669ee" target="_blank">into the final year of his contract at Al-Nassr</a>, with no extension agreed as yet. He has seen a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/sporting-president-claims-ronaldo-return-will-happen-one-day-as-juventus-star-sees-future-questioned/7okm28axal911n951o4j4o8f9" target="_blank">return to his roots at Sporting speculated on</a> for some time, with it possible that the legendary frontman could go full circle and finish where it all began.

WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

'I was gobsmacked' - Cristiano Ronaldo retirement date revealed by former Man Utd team-mate Rio Ferdinand | Goal.com English Bahrain

Rio Ferdinand has revealed when former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still going at 39, will start to think about retirement.