The Most Surprising Signing in Soccer History

Cristiano Ronaldo dribbling the ball as a member of the Portugal National Team. (Creative Commons)

     One of the most surprising moves in soccer history came on December 30th, 2022, with the news that soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo was signing with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr FC. This came after a period of controversy for the 37 year old Portuguese superstar, where he was benched in the FIFA World Cup and released from his contract with English team Manchester United after he publicly criticized the team’s management. 

     Ronaldo has had an impact in soccer leagues around the globe, winning awards in places such as Spain and Italy. He hopes to add to his legacy in Saudi Arabia’s biggest competition, the Saudi Pro League. The signing is an unprecedented one, as the Saudi Pro League is not yet considered to be one of the top league competitions in the world and does not get the same amount of media coverage as some more popular leagues in European countries. 

     In addition to being a record-setter in the number of goals he has scored, Ronaldo also owns the largest contract ever handed out to an athlete, with the star earning $75 million a year from Al Nassr for the next two-and-a-half years.