Cristiano Ronaldo has provoked a backlash from Ligue 1 after claiming the French top-flight is a lower standard than the Saudi Pro League, where he plays for Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo has been brutally mocked by an official Ligue 1 social media account after claiming the Saudi Pro League is better than the French top-flight.
Ronaldo moved to Saudi side Al-Nassr in January 2023 after an acrimonious exit from Manchester United. Nassr have finished second in both seasons Ronaldo has played in, and currently find themselves a distant fourth.
By contrast Ronaldo’s great rival Lionel Messi has snubbed what would be a lucrative move to the Middle East. Instead, he spent two years in Ligue 1 with PSG, winning the title in successive seasons.
He has since moved to the MLS, where he has starred for Inter Miami. And his success appears to have provoked a jibe from Ronaldo, who insisted that the Saudi league was a tougher competition than Ligue 1.
The 39-year-old said at the Globe Soccer Awards: “Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course. France only has PSG. The rest are finished. Try to sprint in 38, 39, 40 degree weather and see.
“It is difficult to become champion in Saudi. This year Al-Hilal are better, Al-Ittihad are top of the league, but I believe that we have to push hard to be champions.
“I’ve been champion everywhere I have (played) and I believe I will be champion, but I’ve won this trophy for scoring so many goals and assists and maintaining my level.”
His comments sparked a backlash from Ligue 1 themselves. The division’s official Spanish language account on Twitter made a cheeky dig back at Ronaldo in response to the superstar’s claims.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Was Cristinao Ronaldo right? Comment below.
The account shared a photo of former PSG star Messi after he had won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Alongside the photo, the caption read: “Leo Messi playing in 38 degrees.”
The account also shared a quote from Messi during his time with in Paris. In an interview, Messi hailed the standard of the French top-flight, even comparing it favourably to La Liga, where he had spent much of his career.
The quote read: “Ligue 1 is a more physical league, where matches are often contested, with a lot of play from one side to the other, where there are strong and fast players. Physically, that changes many things…the biggest difference between Ligue 1 and La Liga is physicality.”
PSG have won eight of the last ten Ligue 1 seasons, with only Monaco in 2016/17 and Lille in 2020/21 halting their dominance. Al-Hilal have enjoyed a similar streak in the Saudi Pro League, lifting the title six of the last ten campaigns.
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