‘HE’S DONE OKAY, THE LAD’ — JOHN O’SHEA GIVES SUBDUED RESPONSE TO EX-UNITED TEAMMATE’S SUCCESS

It’s amazing to think that in the year 2025, Ireland’s defenders are still likely to have headaches over facing Cristiano Ronaldo.

The now 40-year-old may be playing out in Saudi Arabia but if you look at his form at International level it looks like the Ballon d’Or winner is still at the peak of his powers, scoring six goals in as many games for Portugal this calendar year as Portugal won the UEFA Nations League are look likely tp qualify to the World cup in North America next summer.

The move to Saudi Arabia has been highly lucrative to Ronaldo, who already made a fortune throughout his career at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, but since moving to Al-Nassr in 2023, Ronaldo has earned a reported yearly salary of $237.5million before bonuses and a reported 15% stake in Al-Nassr.

This, on top of his CR7 brand and Nike deal, has made Cristiano Ronaldo the first footballer to be named a billionaire. Bloomberg has estimated his net worth to be in the region of €1.2billion. That’s enough to buy Inter Milan, who, according to Forbes’ list of the World’s most valuable clubs for 2025, has estimated Milan to be worth €1billion.

He’s come a long way from the young teenager who played alongside John O’Shea when he first came to United back in 2003, and now, 22 years on, now Ireland Assistant Coach John O’Shea is preparing his side to face Ronaldo with World Cup qualification on the line.

‘Listen, nothing surprises me in terms of the type of dedication and sacrifice he’s shown.’ O’Shea said to the media ahead of Ireland’s trip to Lisbon this Saturday. ‘Yeah, he’s done okay. He’s done okay, the lad.

‘But first and foremost, we have to deal with him as a footballer on Saturday evening [when Ireland take on Portugal in Lisbon], and that’s what we’ll be focusing on. And also the other threats that Portugal possesses.’

When asked was Ronaldo the most gifted player he ever played with, O’Shea was sure not to give a definitive answer and get caught up in the GOAT debate that seems to be never-ending.

‘Oh, what a question that is. He’s been the most, I’d say, statistically the best, hasn’t he? So, most gifted? Probably just edge it, but there’s a few lads chasing him very close, I think.’

2025-10-08T16:55:35Z