- Ligue 1 social networks respond to Cristiano Ronaldo following his statements
- The five-time Ballon d’Or winner previously criticized the quality of the championship
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Original article written by: Adrian Bishop
Published:
19:49 GMT, December 28, 2024
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Updated:
19:49 GMT, December 28, 2024
The Ligue 1 social media team reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial comments in a message published on the championship’s official account.
After a tumultuous split with Manchester United in 2022, Ronaldo surprised the football world by signing with Al-Nassr, becoming the first high-profile star to join the Saudi Pro League.
His arrival led to an exodus of talent, with players like Karim Benzema, Neymar and Sadio Mané joining him in the Gulf kingdom.
At 39, Ronaldo is yet to win a league title since his landmark move, and he said earlier this year that his lack of success proves how competitive the Saudi league is compared to France’s Ligue 1.
Then, after being named Best Player in the Middle East at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Friday, Ronaldo reiterated his criticism of Ligue 1.
“The Saudi league is better than Ligue 1, of course,” Ronaldo said.
Cristiano Ronaldo took aim at the French league during an awards ceremony on Friday.
‘France only has PSG. The others are finished. Try sprinting in temperatures of 38, 39, 40 degrees and see…’
He added: ‘It’s difficult to become champion in Saudi Arabia. This year, Al-Hilal is better, Al-Ittihad is at the top of the table, but I believe we have to fight to be champions.’
‘I’ve been champion everywhere I’ve played and I believe I’m going to be champion, but I won this trophy for scoring so many goals and making so many assists while maintaining my level.’
His comments sparked a strong reaction online, with the official Ligue 1 account in Spanish making a tongue-in-cheek remark in response.
On Saturday, the account shared a photo of Lionel Messi after his 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, with the caption: ‘Leo Messi playing in 38 degrees.’
After leaving FC Barcelona in 2021, Messi spent two seasons in Ligue 1 with PSG, winning the league title each time.
The account also shared a quote from Messi during his time with the Parisians, where he praised the quality of the championship.
Messi had previously praised the quality of football in Ligue 1 during his time at PSG.
‘It’s a much more physical championship than La Liga,’ Messi said of Ligue 1.
‘The teams seem more physical and the matches are tough, they leave you very little space. The players are very solid.’
PSG have won eight of the last ten Ligue 1 seasons, with only Monaco in 2016/17 and Lille in 2020/21 preventing their domination.
Saudi club Al-Hilal have enjoyed a similar trajectory in their domestic competition, having won six of the last ten campaigns.
This exchange between Ronaldo and Ligue 1 underlines the importance of reflections on the competitiveness of the different championships. Social media interactions offer a fascinating insight into rivalry between players and leagues, and prompt the question: What are the real measures of championship quality? Individual performances, titles won, or even competitiveness between clubs? This conversation is undoubtedly an exciting topic to explore.
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