Cristiano Ronaldo's Five-Year Trophy Drought: Is Retirement Near?

Cristiano Ronaldo is facing his fifth consecutive season without a major trophy, as 2024-25 has proven to be another trophy-less campaign. Al Nassr's hopes of winning the AFC Champions League were dashed after a semifinal loss to Kawasaki Frontale. Despite the tournament being held in Saudi Arabia, which seemed to present a golden opportunity, Al Nassr's journey ended in disappointment. Their chances of winning the Saudi Pro League title are also slim, as they sit third in the standings, eight points behind leaders Al Ittihad with only five matches remaining.

In addition, Al Nassr’s early exit from the Saudi King's Cup in the round of 16 further dampened their season. Ronaldo’s last major trophy came in 2021 with Juventus, when they won the Coppa Italia, and since then, he has struggled to add more titles to his illustrious career. His departure from Manchester United meant missing out on a potential English League Cup title, which he could have earned had he stayed with the team during their victory in 2023.

At 40 years old, Ronaldo’s career appears to be nearing its twilight, but retirement does not seem imminent. His ambition to break records, including the goal-scoring milestone of 1,000 goals, remains strong. Additionally, Ronaldo is still eager to lead Portugal to a World Cup victory, a dream that could come true in the 2026 tournament. Despite a dry spell in terms of trophies, his passion for football and his desire to achieve further success keep him motivated to continue playing.