“Impossible Not to Learn From Him”: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Impact on Al-Nassr
At 40, Cristiano Ronaldo is not just scoring goals at Al-Nassr: he leads, inspires and raises locker-room standards, according to teammate Mohamed Simakan.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a leader who transcends age
At 40 years old, when many footballers have already hung up their boots, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to write extraordinary chapters in his career. At Al-Nassr, the Portuguese star is not only the team’s attacking reference, but also a central figure inside the locker room. His leadership, discipline and competitive mentality continue to set the standard in Saudi football, to the point of being described as “incredible” by his own teammates.
One of them is Mohamed Simakan, the French defender who joined the club from RB Leipzig and did not hide his amazement at sharing a team with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. For Simakan, this experience once seemed simply impossible, both because of the age gap and the historical stature of Ronaldo. Today, however, they line up together and pursue the same objectives.
Performances that sustain his influence on the pitch
Beyond motivational speeches, Cristiano Ronaldo backs up his leadership with numbers. This season, he has recorded 11 goals and two assists in just 12 matches, remaining the focal point of Al-Nassr’s attack and the player around whom the team’s offensive plan revolves. His presence continues to be decisive both domestically and continentally, proving that time has not diminished his ability to make a difference.
Simakan has played 54 matches for Al-Nassr, 45 of them alongside Ronaldo. During that period, the defender contributed goals and assists, but above all absorbed lessons from one of football’s most obsessive competitors. Ronaldo’s daily demands have raised the collective standard, forcing everyone to maintain a constant level of focus and professionalism.
Discipline, demands and a winning mentality
Ronaldo’s impact is not limited to matchdays. According to Simakan, his influence is felt in every training session and in every detail of the daily routine. Discipline, constant work and leadership mentality are values the Portuguese star transmits relentlessly to his teammates.
That example has helped shape Al-Nassr’s identity, a team that has embraced the ambition of its biggest figure. Even at this advanced stage of his career, Ronaldo’s competitive hunger remains intact, fueled by new challenges, records still to be broken and the ambition to continue leaving a mark on world football.
The final great objective: World Cup and legacy
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future remains a topic of debate. His contract with Al-Nassr runs until the summer of 2027, and although the end of his career is approaching, the idea of playing beyond 40 no longer seems far-fetched. The symbolic target of 1,000 professional goals remains on the horizon, as does the personal dream of one day sharing the pitch with his eldest son.
What is certain is that the 2026 World Cup will be his definitive farewell on the international stage. Ronaldo himself has confirmed that the tournament will mark his final appearance with the national team, closing a journey that spans more than 25 years at the elite level. Until then, in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano continues to prove that leadership does not age and that his legacy keeps growing, match after match.
