Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent comments comparing the Saudi Pro League to Ligue 1 have stirred a wave of discussion across world football — and, according to the latest data, the numbers don’t quite back him up.
The 40-year-old Al Nassr captain, who joined the Saudi side in late 2022 after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, has continued to make headlines both on and off the pitch.
In his latest sit-down with Morgan — which he called his “most personal yet” — Ronaldo opened up about his future, reiterating his goal of reaching 1,000 career goals before retirement.
So far, he has netted 102 goals for Al Nassr, including eight this season, as the Riyadh giants lead the Saudi Pro League table.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Bold Claim Meets Opta’s Cold Reality
During the interview, Ronaldo lashed out at critics questioning the value of his achievements since moving to Saudi Arabia.
“It’s excuse after excuse. I keep scoring goals every year — even in a bad year, I scored 25,” he said.
“If I were in the Premier League now, I’d score the same. The Saudi League is better than both the Portuguese and French leagues.”
His statement immediately went viral — but according to the Opta Power Rankings, the statistics tell another story. The Saudi Pro League currently ranks 29th globally, trailing not only behind Ligue 1 (5th) and Liga Portugal (9th), but also the Ecuadorian and Cypriot leagues.
Opta’s analysis considers average team ratings across competitions, factoring in depth, balance, and competitiveness — areas where European leagues continue to dominate.
Ronaldo’s Defence of Saudi Football
Still, Ronaldo doubled down on his stance, emphasizing the growing competitiveness of football in the region:
“The Premier League is clearly the best — all the numbers count there. But the Saudi League is improving fast. People underestimate it because I’m part of it. For me, it’s easier to score in Spain than here.”
The veteran forward has two years remaining on his record-breaking £492 million contract with Al Nassr.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, he insists he’s proud of helping elevate the league’s profile — and hinted that his retirement will be an emotional farewell.
“I’ll probably cry when I retire,” he admitted. “It’s been a long journey — but an incredible one.”
While Ronaldo’s words continue to divide opinion, one thing remains undeniable — wherever he goes, the football world always listens.
