Cristiano Ronaldo may be focused on his quest for a first major title with Al Nassr, with the club on the verge of a domestic title and in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Two. But, the 41-year-old is also on the verge of a personal late-career milestone, sharing a professional football pitch with his son.
Reports emerging from Saudi Arabia, including updates from transfer news insider Fabrizio Romano, indicate that Al Nassr are seriously considering promoting Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. to the senior squad ahead of the 2026–27 season.
The club's technical staff are expected to conduct a final assessment at the end of the ongoing campaign, focusing on the 15-year-old's physical readiness and tactical development. If cleared, Ronaldo Jr. could join first-team training full-time, opening up the possibility of featuring alongside his father, who remains under contract until June 2027, accoridng to reports.
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr: Rapid Rise Through The Ranks
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has been part of Al Nassr's academy setup since January 2023, following his father's move to Riyadh. Over a relatively short period, he has progressed quickly through multiple youth levels.
Following his father's career path, Cristiano Jr. has trained at several top football academies, including Juventus and Manchester United.
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His stats at an early age are impressive with 58 goals in 23 games for Juventus U-9s and 56 goals in 27 matches for Al Nassr's U-15s.
In the 2025–26 Saudi U16 Premier League, he has scored six goals in 15 appearances, while also earning caps for Portugal's U15 and U16 national teams.
Standing at approximately 1.87 metres (6'1”), his physical profile has drawn attention internally, with club staff viewing his early physical maturity as a factor that could support a faster-than-usual transition. Stylistically, he mirrors elements of his father's game, a forward comfortable attacking space, operating centrally, and finishing across different situations, though he remains in early developmental stages.
What A Joint Appearance Would Mean
If Al Nassr proceed with the promotion, it would mark one of the rare instances in professional football where a father and son share the pitch in a competitive setting.
Such instances remain rare but not without precedent.
Rivaldo and Rivaldinho shared the field for Brazilian club Mogi Mirim in 2015, even scoring in the same match during a 3–1 win. Henrik Larsson briefly came out of retirement in 2013 to play alongside his teenage son Jordan at Högaborgs BK.
Arnór and Eiður Guðjohnsen featured in the same international match for Iceland in 1996, though they did not share the pitch simultaneously.
Beyond football, basketball has recently witnessed a high-profile example, earlier this month, LeBron and Bronny James made history as the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA playoff game for the Los Angeles Lakers on April 19.
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