Cristiano Ronaldo Asserts Saudi Pro League Outperforms Ligue 1 Amid Scoring Feats
Al Nassr forward Ronaldo claims gulf league tougher than Europe’s Ligue 1 and asks why Golden Boot honours exclude Saudi scoring
At age forty, Cristiano Ronaldo has once again boldly defended the competitiveness of the Saudi Pro League and his own scoring record with Al Nassr.
In a recent interview on the Piers Morgan Uncensored channel, he argued that the Saudi league is “better than the Portuguese League and Ligue 1, tougher than La Liga” and questioned why Saudi-league goals are not counted for the Golden Boot.
Ronaldo said that suggestions his tallies are inflated by the Saudi environment amount to “an excuse, excuse, excuse.
I score more goals as the years go by.
Even in a poor season I scored twenty-five goals.” He added: “I would have scored the same number of goals even if I played for a Premier League big club right now.”
Currently, Ronaldo has scored 108 goals and provided 21 assists in 121 official matches for Al Nassr since joining in December 2022. This season, he has already netted nine goals and two assists in ten appearances.
He did not shy away from fact-checking perceptions of league quality.
“People have never played in Saudi Arabia.
They have no idea what it’s like to play in 40-degree heat,” he emphasised.
“I would say the Saudi Pro League is far better than the Portuguese League and Ligue 1. Ligue 1 only has Paris Saint-Germain.”
He also pointed to the influx of top-class players into Saudi Arabia, asking: “Look at how many top-class players are in the Saudi League.
Why aren’t Saudi League goals counted for the Golden Boot?
Why?” The question underscores his belief that the league merits inclusion in global statistical honours.
His remarks are the latest in a series of repeated comparisons, first made publicly at an awards ceremony in January 2024 when he declared the Saudi Pro League “not worse than the French league… in my opinion.” While league rankings continue to place Ligue 1 among Europe’s top competitions, Ronaldo maintains that his perspective stems from firsthand experience in the Saudi top flight.
Whether the debate over league standards affects his personal legacy or global recognition, Ronaldo remains in peak form and unashamedly vocal about the league where he now stars.
In a recent interview on the Piers Morgan Uncensored channel, he argued that the Saudi league is “better than the Portuguese League and Ligue 1, tougher than La Liga” and questioned why Saudi-league goals are not counted for the Golden Boot.
Ronaldo said that suggestions his tallies are inflated by the Saudi environment amount to “an excuse, excuse, excuse.
I score more goals as the years go by.
Even in a poor season I scored twenty-five goals.” He added: “I would have scored the same number of goals even if I played for a Premier League big club right now.”
Currently, Ronaldo has scored 108 goals and provided 21 assists in 121 official matches for Al Nassr since joining in December 2022. This season, he has already netted nine goals and two assists in ten appearances.
He did not shy away from fact-checking perceptions of league quality.
“People have never played in Saudi Arabia.
They have no idea what it’s like to play in 40-degree heat,” he emphasised.
“I would say the Saudi Pro League is far better than the Portuguese League and Ligue 1. Ligue 1 only has Paris Saint-Germain.”
He also pointed to the influx of top-class players into Saudi Arabia, asking: “Look at how many top-class players are in the Saudi League.
Why aren’t Saudi League goals counted for the Golden Boot?
Why?” The question underscores his belief that the league merits inclusion in global statistical honours.
His remarks are the latest in a series of repeated comparisons, first made publicly at an awards ceremony in January 2024 when he declared the Saudi Pro League “not worse than the French league… in my opinion.” While league rankings continue to place Ligue 1 among Europe’s top competitions, Ronaldo maintains that his perspective stems from firsthand experience in the Saudi top flight.
Whether the debate over league standards affects his personal legacy or global recognition, Ronaldo remains in peak form and unashamedly vocal about the league where he now stars.
