Cristiano Ronaldo's Bold Declaration Falls Flat Against Hard Numbers
Cristiano Ronaldo has boldly declared that the Saudi Pro League now ranks among the world's top five football competitions, a statement that contradicts conventional opinion and most analytical assessments.
The Portuguese superstar brought massive attention to Saudi Arabia's premier division after departing Manchester United to sign with Al Nassr during the 2022 winter transfer window. While discussing his continued presence in the Kingdom following a new two-year contract extension, the experienced striker praised the standard of a league that many observers have criticized.
"Naturally, we [the Saudi Pro League] continue to develop. I am convinced that at this point we are already among the top five [leagues globally]," Ronaldo declared during an interview on Al Nassr's YouTube platform. "I remain confident that we will keep progressing, and we have the opportunity.
"We have demonstrated over the past two years that the league consistently elevates its standards. I am pleased because I understand that the league offers strong competition. Only those who have never participated in Saudi Arabia and lack football knowledge claim this league isn't among the world's top five.
"I have complete faith in my statement, and those who compete in this league understand my perspective."
Evaluating league standards across different continents proves challenging since clubs from these various divisions rarely face each other. Paradoxically, the expanded Club World Cup—a tournament Ronaldo chose not to participate in—offers a rare chance for meaningful comparison.
Al Hilal represents the sole Saudi entry and successfully advanced to the elimination rounds by securing second place in Group H behind Real Madrid, achieving a 1–1 tie against the Spanish powerhouse during the process.
Respected analytics company Opta provides a more comprehensive assessment of competing leagues. Through analysis of sophisticated statistics from thousands of teams worldwide, Opta has created global, live power rankings. As of mid-June, the overall strength of Saudi Pro League clubs positioned it as the 29th most competitive division globally—falling considerably short of Ronaldo's top-five claim.
In contrast, Major League Soccer—where Ronaldo's longtime competitor Lionel Messi plays—ranks as the 12th-strongest league.
Based on Opta's analysis, the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, and French Ligue 1 constitute the world's top five competitions. Notably, England's second-division Championship holds the sixth position.
Opta additionally offers individual club rankings. Recently crowned Premier League winners Liverpool top the global list, while Ronaldo's Al Nassr sits at 124th position currently, just two spots behind recently promoted Sunderland.