Cristiano Ronaldo praised by Mohamed Simakan for leadership after unlikely Al-Nassr link-up | OneFootball

Mohamed Simakan has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo’s leadership at Al-Nassr, calling their link-up something he once thought impossible, while the 40-year-old continues to exert major influence inside the dressing room.

Ronaldo has 11 goals and two assists in 12 appearances this season. Simakan joined in 2024 on loan from RB Leipzig, then made the switch permanent in the summer.

The French defender said he would have dismissed the idea of sharing a pitch with Ronaldo when he started out, given their ages. He has now played 54 times for Al-Nassr, 45 alongside the forward, scoring three and assisting three.

Simakan says Ronaldo’s standards extend well beyond matchday, stressing the lessons in discipline, work and leadership, and the regular advice he receives. That presence has helped shape the team’s identity.

Ronaldo’s deal runs to summer 2027. There is speculation his career could stretch further, with the 1,000-goal landmark and the long-held notion of possibly playing alongside his eldest son still in view.

He has already said the 2026 World Cup will be his last. "Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old. I feel very good in this moment. I score goals, I still feel quick and sharp, I'm enjoying my game in the national team," he told CNN.

Source: Goal.com