Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to win a league title since his Saudi Arabia move... but despite the season coming to a close and Al-Nassr 14 POINTS off top spot, he appears happy with life in the Middle East

Cristiano Ronaldo's first full season in Saudi Arabia is coming to an end. It has delivered many celebrity appearances, a fair few million pounds, but no trophies.

When the forward joined Al-Nassr in 2022 on the back of a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, attacking his then employers Manchester United, it was expected he would clean up in the Middle East.

If clean up referred to being the face of as many money-making events as possible, then sure. If it referred to success on the field, there's a little more to be desired.

Going into the final game of the season on Monday, Ronaldo and Co are on 79 points from 33 games, a staggering 14 behind champions Al-Hilal, though remain 17 ahead of Al-Ahli in third.

It's second place again for them. Something Ronaldo isn't used to. And something he won't be best pleased with.

There's little doubt that Ronaldo still has 'it'. Though he's 39 now, he does still remain one of the best players in the world, and he'll look to prove that at Euro 2024 this summer with Portugal.

But what's he truly doing in Saudi? He's been blasted for reportedly doing it for money. He was the first big name to make the move. The likes of Karim Benzema and Neymar followed.

Last summer, Ronaldo revealed he was struggling to adapt to the heat of the country. In the last few games - a trip to Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk sandwiched in-between - he has missed two major sitters.

He passed up a golden opportunity in last Friday's 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal, shinning the ball well wide of the target with only the goalkeeper to beat, then inexplicably tried to chip the keeper and ended up spooning his effort several yards past the post in his side's 2-2 draw with Al-Riyadh on Thursday.

Only he will know if he is truly happy, but he seems it. 

The truth is, with the money he is on, his age and potentially that anti-United interview lingering in the back of minds, Ronaldo's career is probably over in Europe. There aren't too many options.

One wonders if he expected the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves and Malcom to take such success to Al-Hilal, who have been without Neymar for most of the season due to injury. 

Ronaldo meanwhile has been partnered by the likes of Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic and Aymeric Laporte.

Tuesday's game against last year's champions Al-Ittihad is a dead a rubber as it gets for Al-Nassr. For their opponents, it's all or nothing, with qualification for next season's AFC Champions League on the line. The likes of N'Golo Kante and Jota will need to win and hope Al-Taawoun, the only non-state owned club in the top five, slip up against Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq.

Ronaldo's first crack at the AFC Champions League ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates. He will be keen to have another go next year, but it will take some going to win that.

He has lifted one trophy, the Arab Club Champions Cup. A decent feat. But a major trophy, one he would strive for? No.

That said, he is all smiles when out and about, snapped with Saudi royalty and being treated like a King himself. It would perhaps depend what his priorities are, but, for now, life seems good enough for him.

Next week, too, his side will contest the King Cup final against Al-Hilal. They won't be favourites, but it is a chance for silverware. 

Elsewhere in the league, Gerrard's side have made slim progress, going from seventh last year to what will likely be sixth this term. It has been a season of ups and downs, headlined by Jordan Henderson's short stay.

Gerrard too is hailed in Saudi. Footage has been shared of his players' joy after good wins, he too was ringside for Fury vs Usyk. His career ambition is unclear, but he has a pretty safe, well-paying job for now.

In terms of the stars, Karim Benzema is the one who seems most unhappy.

Struggling to adjust to life after Real Madrid, he has managed just nine league goals for Al-Ittihad this term.

He has been at war with manager Marcelo Gallardo, shipped out wide, and has been back training at Real Madrid. It feels like a matter of time until that failed experiment, like Jordan Henderson's, comes to an end.

Mitrovic has rivalled Ronaldo in the Golden Boot race, registering 27 strikes at a goal a game, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner out in front with 33 goals.

Kante is back in the France squad, meanwhile, and it remains to be seen whether the league can attract more big-name players this summer. For Ronaldo, it's Portugal duty after Monday, before a return to the new normality of Saudi life.