Ronaldo defends Saudi Pro League, claims it ranks among top five globally
Critics, including former France international Adil Rami and Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimović, publicly dismissed Ronaldo’s assertion.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating after scoring for Al Nassr. Photo/Getty Images.
By Robert Assad
Cristiano Ronaldo reignited debate over global football rankings after asserting the Saudi Pro League is among the top five in the world, according to a video released Sunday by his club, Al-Nassr.
“Only people who have not played in Saudi Arabia, or who don’t understand anything about football, say that the Saudi League isn’t among the top 5 leagues in the world,” Ronaldo said.
The Portuguese star, who joined Al-Nassr in late 2022, praised the league’s growing competitiveness and international appeal. His comments were made during an announcement about extending his contract through 2026.
However, the claim has drawn skepticism from analysts and former players. Data compiled by Opta in January ranked the Saudi Pro League 29th globally, trailing behind established competitions such as England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, and Germany’s Bundesliga.
Critics, including former France international Adil Rami and Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimović, publicly dismissed Ronaldo’s assertion. Rami accused Ronaldo of using public relations tactics and warned he would struggle in France’s Ligue 1. Ibrahimović said he “won’t waste time” discussing what he viewed as a baseless claim.
Despite the backlash, the Saudi league has invested heavily in foreign talent, with clubs signing top players from Europe and South America in a bid to raise its international profile.
Ronaldo remains the league’s most high-profile figure and a vocal ambassador for its ambitions. He maintains that Saudi Arabia will become a football powerhouse ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which the kingdom is expected to host.
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