Cristiano Ronaldo’s first Saudi Pro League title celebration has been overshadowed by a withering critique from former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney, who claims the Portuguese superstar “should have retired already” and that “no one really cares” about his latest achievement.
Just hours after the 41-year-old scored a brace to secure Al-Nassr’s 4-1 victory over Damac, clinching his first major trophy since joining the club in 2023 , Rooney delivered a scathing assessment of his former Old Trafford colleague’s current standing in the game.
‘He Doesn’t Dominate Matches’
Speaking in an interview published shortly after Al-Nassr’s title-clinching win, Rooney did not hold back .
“No disrespect but honestly… no one really cares about the Saudi League outside of social media debates,” the 40-year-old former England captain said. “Cristiano is one year older than me and if I’m being truthful, I think he should’ve retired already. I don’t even understand why he keeps pushing himself this hard at this stage” .
The critique went further, with Rooney questioning the quality of Ronaldo’s current performances.
“People will get angry because it’s Ronaldo and he has millions of loyal fans,” Rooney continued. “But sometimes I actually watch Saudi League matches, especially the big games, and Cristiano is no longer the player people pretend he is.”
Rooney elaborated on what he sees as a dramatic decline.
“He doesn’t dominate matches, he doesn’t control games, and even the simple tap-ins are becoming difficult for him,” he said. “Most of the time the team carries him now rather than the other way around” .
‘The Last Meaningful Trophy Was at Juventus’
Rooney dismissed the significance of Ronaldo’s latest silverware, which was secured after a dramatic final day of the season. Al-Nassr finished two points ahead of undefeated rivals Al-Hilal to claim the club’s first league title since 2019 .
“Winning another trophy there doesn’t suddenly change football history,” Rooney said. “The last meaningful trophy people seriously celebrated from him was probably during his Juventus days, and even then expectations were completely different.”
The 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title is Ronaldo’s first major trophy since winning Serie A with Juventus in 2020—a drought of approximately six years . Since joining Al-Nassr, Ronaldo had previously missed out on 14 trophies across various competitions, including three Saudi Pro League titles and five cup finals .
“I genuinely don’t understand why every single thing he does now gets treated like the greatest achievement ever,” Rooney added.
A Complicated History
The pair’s relationship has been strained since the 2006 World Cup, when Ronaldo was seen urging the referee to send off Rooney during England’s quarter-final defeat to Portugal . The tension resurfaced in 2022 when Ronaldo branded Rooney a “rat” in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan .
However, just eight months ago, Rooney appeared to strike a more conciliatory tone. Speaking on former teammate Rio Ferdinand’s podcast in September 2025, he said: “People think I hate him [Ronaldo], I love him. I think he is an absolute genius and what he’s doing is incredible” .
That apparent softening has now been replaced by renewed criticism, with Rooney suggesting that knowing when to retire is “also part of greatness” .
‘Greatness Includes Knowing When to Stop’
Despite the harsh words, Rooney was careful to acknowledge Ronaldo’s historic standing in the sport.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players in football history, nobody can erase that,” he said. “But football moves on. Age catches everyone eventually, even the legends, and sometimes knowing when to stop is also part of greatness” .
The timing of Rooney’s remarks is significant. Ronaldo’s brace against Damac brought his league tally to 28 goals for the season, and he has now scored over 100 goals for Al-Nassr since his arrival . The victory also completed a remarkable collection for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner—he has now won league titles in Portugal, England, Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia .
Ronaldo’s Supporters Push Back
Unsurprisingly, Rooney’s comments have ignited fierce debate among fans and pundits. Supporters point to Ronaldo’s continued goalscoring form—28 league goals at age 41—as evidence that the veteran forward remains a formidable force.
The Saudi Pro League’s growing global profile also counters Rooney’s claim that “no one cares.” The recent Al-Nassr derby against Al-Hilal reportedly attracted approximately 1.2 billion viewers worldwide, surpassing even El Clasico’s audience of around 800 million .
What’s Next?
For Ronaldo, attention now turns to the 2026 World Cup in North America, where he has been named to Portugal’s squad for what would be a record-extending sixth tournament appearance . A strong performance on football’s biggest stage would provide the most emphatic possible response to his former teammate’s criticism.
Rooney’s comments, meanwhile, have reignited one of football’s most enduring personality rivalries. Whether they represent genuine concern or lingering resentment remains a matter of debate—but they have ensured that Ronaldo’s long-awaited Saudi title will be remembered for more than just the silverware.
