What will the end of Ronaldo’s career look like?

 

 

It’s no secret that Cristiano Ronaldo’s age is starting to affect his performance. He recently admitted that his career as a professional football player probably has “four or five years” left in it before he’ll have to retire, and his current position at Manchester United is widely reported to be uncertain. But how exactly will the career of one of the most celebrated football players of all time wrap up? T

he man is known to be very ambitious with regard to winning new titles, but he’s also a brand unto himself, which gives him a lot of options to consider even after his retirement. So, taking that into consideration, here are a few thoughts on how Ronaldo’s time in pro football may begin to wind down….

Finishing Up In The MLS

In the last few decades, there has been a consistent influx of football stars from European leagues to Major League Soccer –– typically as they approach retirement. Stars like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thierry Henry, and Wayne Rooney found in the MLS a league that offered them a decent challenge, as well as an opportunity to show off their skills. The fans were also a plus, as they were happy to be able to regularly see some of the best players in the world perform live, rather than just watching them on TV. And of course, there was plenty of financial opportunity off the field as well, with all sorts of new promotions and merchandise aimed at the U.S. market.

Given all of this, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if the famous Portuguese player decided to join the MLS in the coming years. Indeed, his ex-teammate Nani has said it will probably happen.

More Time At The Poker Tables

Whenever he fully hangs up his boots, there’s a good bet we’ll continue to see Ronaldo in competition. This is because the football star is commonly recognised as one of a number of athletes known to enjoy poker at a competitive level. Some of his fellow footballers –– namely, Gianluigi Buffon, Neymar Jr., and Gerard Piqué –– have at times been a little bit more active when it comes to actual poker tournaments. But Ronaldo has also appeared in multiple events over the years as well and even served as a brand ambassador for PokerStars.

All of this means that like some other great athletes, Ronaldo already has a competitive outlet set up for retirement. Now, it may be that he’s largely used poker for promotion up to this point and that we won’t necessarily see more of him around the game. But there’s also every chance he dives in a little deeper once he’s retired, and starts popping up at tournaments more regularly.

 

Full-Time Modeling & Promotion

If there’s an activity that comes naturally to Ronaldo –– outside of football, of course –– it’s modelling. Since the beginning of his career, “CR7” has been paid handsomely to lend his image and name to the promotion of famous brands like Nike. For that matter, he’s also developed his own line of clothing and shoes.

These promotional endeavours have been immensely profitable for Ronaldo, and there’s no reason for any of it to stop just because he wraps up his playing days. Football star David Beckham only seemed to ramp up his own modelling and brand promotion once he stopped playing, and a few other major athletes –– Tom Brady and Roger Federer come to mind –– seem more than likely to do the same.

Club Ownership

It’s not uncommon for talented players to continue their careers as football coaches. Zinedine Zidane and Diego Simeone managed to parlay their understanding of football tactics into coaching positions with some of the biggest clubs in the world (and did a fair bit of winning as well). Ronaldo could likely take this same path if he chooses to. However, some players also go a step further and wind up owning or managing franchises.

Basketball icon Michael Jordan, for example, owns the Charlotte Hornets, and New York Yankees great Derek Jeter only recently gave up his own ownership stake in the Miami Marlins. LeBron James has spoken openly about his desire to own a team when he finishes playing basketball. And the aforementioned David Beckham is the co-owner of Inter Miami CF. Like these legends before him, Ronaldo could also try to purchase partial ownership of a club and use his business and branding skills to push that club to new heights.

Despite the fact that he’s nearing 40, Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of the best football players in the world. This makes him very attractive to American clubs that will look to capitalise on his stardom in a short time. But as we begin to imagine his retirement and its aftermath, it also seems more than likely that even when he stops playing, Ronaldo will remain in the public eye.

Whilst he is still able to weave his magic, he will remain in demand. After that? We’ll just have to wait and see what he chooses to do.