“I spoke with him, and he’s definitely shown interest. He even prostrated himself on the field after scoring a goal. He ensures the players pray and stops training whenever the muezzin calls for prayer. When he bowed, all the players shouted ‘Allahu Akbar.’”
These words, spoken by Nasser Walid Abdullah, a former goalkeeper for the Saudi club Al-Nassr, have sparked a storm in the football world – all because of the man he was talking about. Could Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese icon and global superstar, truly be considering converting to Islam? “He’s very interested in the local culture,” Abdullah continued, referring to a man widely recognized as one of the finest soccer players ever. “At first, he had so many questions about Saudi Arabia. He wanted to know everything about our way of life here.”
Adding fuel to the fire, a fake photo of Ronaldo supposedly reading the Quran began circulating online, further stoking speculation. It was later revealed to be someone else entirely, reading a completely different book. But the rumors didn’t stop there. When asked on Cristiano’s YouTube channel if he wanted to play with his father, his 14-year-old son, Cristiano Jr., replied with “Inshallah.” While it’s likely the boy, who lives in Riyadh and plays for Al-Nassr’s youth team, picked up the phrase from his new friends, the Saudis – obsessed with Ronaldo – seized on the comment. Of course, there’s no suggestion that Cristiano Jr. plans to fast during Ramadan, but every little detail about the former Real Madrid legend is enough to send fans into a frenzy.
CR7 surfing
This isn’t the first time such rumors have surrounded Ronaldo. Back in 2013, during his time at Real Madrid, similar speculation emerged due to his close friendship with Turkish midfield maestro Mesut Özil. Rest assured, Ronaldo will continue going to church and isn’t about to change his name to Mahmoud. But one thing is undeniable: as a master marketer, Ronaldo knows how to give his audience exactly what they want. Should the Saudis want him to embrace their traditions, the Portuguese star will happily celebrate a goal like a Muslim player – it’s no big deal for him. Another thing is equally clear: Ronaldo feels completely at home in Saudi Arabia.
First person ever to reach a billion followers
It’s been two years since Ronaldo made the groundbreaking decision to sign with Al-Nassr, a move that shocked the football world and triggered a wave of high-profile signings in the Saudi league. While other stars, such as Neymar, have openly expressed frustration with life in the desert kingdom, Ronaldo is thriving. The Portuguese phenomenon, who turns 40 this February, shows no signs of longing for European football or his old life on the continent. His new chapter in Saudi Arabia is not only lucrative but picture-perfect. Case in point: in September, Ronaldo became the first person in history to reach one billion followers across social media.
Saudi Arabia pays Ronaldo $300 million a year, and in return, they’ve gained the most passionate ambassador imaginable. His commitment to the Saudi project was evident last week when FIFA announced the hosts of upcoming World Cups. Saudi Arabia secured the 2034 tournament, a decision that drew sharp criticism from the Western world.
Meanwhile, for the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by his home country of Portugal alongside Spain and Morocco, Ronaldo wrote: “This will be the most special World Cup ever.”
For the Saudis, however, he appeared in a high-production video that was as emotional as it was strategic. “This will be the best World Cup in history,” Ronaldo declared. “Football is evolving rapidly – we already have seven or eight strong clubs in the Saudi league. This is an amazing country that’s developing every day. The Saudis are good people, and the future here is bright. I’m certain I’ll be watching this World Cup.”
When the man known as "CR7" talks about Saudi Arabia, his enthusiasm is infectious, his eyes lighting up with genuine excitement. It’s hard not to believe him. If the video had gone on a bit longer, you might have expected him to start reminiscing about a fictional childhood in Riyadh or recounting fond memories with his “school friend,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. With a billion followers, Ronaldo is undoubtedly the world’s greatest marketer. But sarcasm aside, Ronaldo is making a sincere effort to embed himself into the Saudi story – and that’s exactly why they adore him.
A one-man economic empire
Life in the oil-rich kingdom has been nothing short of luxurious for Ronaldo. At first, he and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, stayed in a hotel for several months. Hotel? More like a sprawling mansion with 18 rooms in one of the most opulent establishments in Saudi Arabia. Eventually, they moved into a $15 million home in Riyadh’s most exclusive neighborhood.
“My family and I love life here,” Ronaldo shared in an interview with his former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand. “Adjusting wasn’t easy at first, but everyone was so welcoming. I’m used to moving between countries in my career, but here it felt simpler.” Ronaldo and his family were among the first visitors to the Red Sea Project, the Crown Prince’s ambitious development initiative. They stayed in a futuristic resort village featuring villas designed like floating steel spheres – something straight out of Back to the Future Part II. Ronaldo was captivated, even calling the area “my second home.”
His contract is set to expire this summer, but there are already discussions about a two-year extension, which could see him retire while wearing Al-Nassr’s colors. Meanwhile, a bizarre rumor has emerged: that Ronaldo could be loaned from Al-Nassr to their rivals, Al-Hilal, to play in the Club World Cup this summer. Al-Hilal’s president denied the possibility, but reports in Saudi Arabia insist the idea is being explored –with hopes of seeing Ronaldo face his former club, Real Madrid, and perhaps Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in the knockout stage.
Ronaldo’s ambitions remain as lofty as ever. Chief among them is becoming the first player to score 1,000 career goals – a milestone he estimates will take him another “two or three years.” Currently, his tally stands at 916. “Unlike others, all my goals are documented – even the ones from training,” Ronaldo remarked, taking a subtle shot at the late Brazilian superstar Pele.
As captain of Portugal’s national team, Ronaldo also hopes to become the first player to appear in six World Cups, though Lionel Messi is poised to share that honor in 2026. After Portugal’s elimination in the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo famously broke down in tears, as he did again during Euro 2024. Many assumed these were moments of farewell, but he made it clear they were wrong: “I cry because it’s part of the game I love. I’m invested in it, and I’m not afraid to show my emotions. I think that’s why people connect with me.”
'People understand I’m real'
Whether you call him a “social media influencer” or something else, Ronaldo is a global phenomenon. On Instagram alone, where he’s the most-followed person, Ronaldo boasts an astonishing 645 million followers.
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He’s not just Saudi Arabia’s ambassador – he endorses everything under the sun. From skincare products (Georgina jokes he’s “addicted”), cars, apps and even his sponsor-in-chief, Saudi Arabia itself, Ronaldo’s influence is unparalleled.
“Do you think people follow me just because of my goals or the titles I’ve won?” Ronaldo asked Ferdinand. “That’s only part of the story. People connect with me because I’m real. They love my values, my family, my lifestyle and the inspiration I give. I’m an emotional person – I don’t hide anything, and I won’t change. People understand I’m authentic.”
Ronaldo’s philosophy is as inspiring as his career: “The past is the past. There’s no point dwelling on mistakes. The present is the greatest gift we have, and we need to live in the now. Whatever happens, keep working, and the results will come.”
It’s hard not to be moved by his outlook. He almost makes you want to pack your bags and move to Saudi Arabia.