Is The Saudi League “More Competitive” Than The French?

On Friday, Cristiano Ronaldo maintained that the Saudi Pro League—which is sometimes mocked—was “more competitive” than Ligue 1 in France. “To tell the truth, I don’t believe that the Saudi championship is any worse than the French one. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo said at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, “I think it’s more competitive.” Ronaldo signed a contract with Al-Nassr in January of last year, becoming the first well-known athlete to go to Saudi Arabia.

Players like Senegalese attacker Sadio Mane, Brazilian sensation Neymar, and Frenchman Karim Benzema have all departed Europe for the Gulf kingdom’s enormous salary.

Ronaldo said, “They can say what they want; it’s just my opinion,” in response to a question on the caliber of the Saudi Pro League. I’ve been playing there for a year, so I can speak from experience.

“I think that now we are better than the French championship and we continue to improve.”