"It’s only going to get worse" - Ex-Liverpool star says Cristiano Ronaldo could become Portugal's prime minister after being 'bought' by Saudi Arabia

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has weighed in on the evolving influence of football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, asserting that the Portuguese global reach could transcend into the political and corporate realms. Collymore’s bold comments came on the back of Ronaldo’s claim that the Saudi Pro League was better than Ligue 1.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, is undisputedly one of the most popular athletes in the world. In September, the Al-Nassr man celebrated reaching one billion followers across social media platforms. Due to the large following Ronaldo has amassed, his opinions could go viral not only in the football world but also beyond the sport.

Stan Collymore recently gave his two cents on the power that Cristiano Ronaldo has in shaping narratives and public opinion. He wrote in his column on Caught Offside:

''Ronaldo’s comments on the Saudi league being better than French football, that this player was better than that… I think at this point we’ve pretty much figured out where his loyalties lie, haven’t we?

"Much like when David Beckham was ambassador for the Qatar World Cup, or Lionel Messi going and playing in the United States and signing a big deal with Apple, these guys are big business around the world and whoever buys them gets their opinions. Opinions that can be shaped by the people that bought them."

He added:

''I think that their influence in the game will only grow. Beckham’s certainly has, and I don’t think he touches the sides when it comes to the reach that Ronaldo has. Beckham was a global icon as much for the fact that he’s a good looking boy married to a pop star, he had a lot of personality and would sell everything and anything.

"In the same way that Pele was arguably bought lock, stock and barrel by FIFA and rolled out to certain events , so I think that it won’t be a surprise to see Cristiano Ronaldo doing the same."

Collymore also pointed out the precedent of footballers entering politics, citing George Weah’s presidency in Liberia as an example of how athletes can transition to positions of political power. He suggested that Ronaldo’s immense popularity and continuous presence on screens worldwide could pave the way for a similar trajectory.

''I just think we need to get used to global superstars in the coming generations having way much more political play than ever. And when I say political play, you only have to look at George Weah. He was, of course, president of Liberia, and you’ve had a number of footballers around the world that have put themselves forward for political positions," he added.

Collymore concluded with a stark observation about the implications of footballers being “bought” by powerful entities and how their influence might be wielded for purposes beyond the sport.

''Let’s be perfectly honest, if Donald Trump and Elon Musk can put themselves forward as leaders in the free world, then the global recognition of top class footballers that are on people’s screens 24/7, 40 weeks of the year, could ensure that you absolutely see Cristiano Ronaldo as prime minister of Portugal or president of FIFA, for example.

"It starts with being bought by the entity, who then use players for their own purposes. Sad to say it, but I think it’s only going to get worse rather than better," he concluded.

Former Liverpool forward rules out Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Europe

Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has played down speculations that Cristiano Ronaldo could return to Europe. Heskey advised the Al-Nassr man not to return, using Mohamed Salah’s contract situation at Liverpool as an example.

Ronaldo is in the last year of his contract at Al-Nassr and has been rumored to return to Europe amid the uncertainty surrounding his future in the Middle East. Addressing Ronaldo’s possible return to Europe, Heskey told Instant Casino (via GOAL):

"I can't see him coming back to Europe unless someone thinks it’s more of a commercial deal than anything else. Coming back to Europe, players who are 30 and doing really well are struggling to get new contracts, Mo Salah being the biggest name, so I don't think he'll come back to Europe. But I still think he could do a job, absolutely."

Despite being in the twilight years of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to score consistently in the Saudi Pro League.