Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to head into management when he retires.
The five-times Ballon d’Or winner has scored scored 900 goals in 1,238 matches but still has aspirations of extending his career. The 39-year-old has his heart set on securing 1,000 goals, and could yet extend his contract, due to expire in 2025, with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
The Portuguese international has already expanded his avenues as time winds down on his career. Ronaldo has recently launched a YouTube channel and has ambitions of surpassing Mr Beast in subscribers.
The forward expects to retire in two or three years when he brings his stint with Al-Nassr to a close. Former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen believes that after what he saw on the sidelines during Euro 2024, management could follow.
Ronaldo was an active presence by the dugout, when he was not on the field in Germany. Owen suggests it hinted at his ambition.
“Just looking from the outside, it feels like he might want to be at the side of the pitch managing Portugal like he did at Euro 2016,” he said per Goal.
“He looks like a coach, he looks like he wants to coach, so he might want to go down that route. The Portugal job, probably in the future, we might have his name on it, you never know.
“Of course, if he does well, then great teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid would then be looking at him.”
Owen acknowledged, given Ronaldo’s profile, that club ownership could be more likely for the superstar. The ex-England international sees a path where Ronaldo and long-term rival Lionel Messi could both swap the pitch for an owner’s box.
“I’d be fascinated to see what Cristiano Ronaldo is going to do when he retires,” he said.
“Obviously, they’re [Messi and Ronaldo] not far away from that being the case. Their life has been in football and they absolutely love the sport and whether they can walk away from it in its entirety remains to be seen, they might want to go and own a club.
“They’re probably one of a few footballers that have got the money to go and own a big club so that could take precedence over coaching.
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