Cristiano Ronaldo sparked controversy at the Globe Soccer Awards by making bold claims about the Saudi Pro League, declaring it to be superior to Ligue 1. “The Saudi Arabian league is much better than the French league. In France, there is only PSG; the others are no match,” Ronaldo said. The comments sparked debate, prompting the former World Cup-winning defender Fair Rami to respond vigorously.
Speaking on his Twitch stream, Rami criticized Ronaldo's comments, delivering a frank response. “He says anything. Do you want me to show you images of defenders in Saudi Arabia?” said Rami. “Just because he's had an incredible career doesn't mean everything he says is true.”
Although Rami admitted his admiration for Ronaldo, he pointed out that the Portuguese star's words often create unnecessary tension. “Cristiano Ronaldo, you know, I’m a fan. I'm from the Cristiano Ronaldo team, but he made a mistake,” he declared. “When he says that the Saudi league is better than the French league, he takes a lot of people with him.”
Rami went further, issuing a challenge to Ronaldo and Al Nassr to test their skills against the French teams. “Try playing against Monaco, Lille or Marseille. Take your small team and play against Brest,” added the former French defender, visibly frustrated.
Ligue 1 reaction to Ronaldo's comments
Ronaldo also highlighted the difficult conditions in Saudi Arabia as a key factor in his praise for the league. “They should go play there and see what it's like—playing sports in 39/40º heat and they just try,” he said.
The league itself reacted, posting a subtle but timely response on its official X account (formerly Twitter). The post included an image of Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup with the caption: “Leo Messi playing at 38 degrees,” accompanied by an Argentinian flag, a star and a goat emoji, a clear reference to the status of “GOAT” by Messi.
Analysis of Ronaldo's comments
Although Ronaldo's remarks may have shocked some, they are not completely without merit. Ligue 1 was largely dominated by the Paris Saint-Germainwho won 10 of the last 12 league titles, AS Monaco (2017) et Lille (2021) being the only teams to have broken their series.
On the international scene, Ligue 1 is struggling to establish itself. Marseille Olympic remains the only French team to have won the UEFA Champions League, capturing the title in 1992-93. During this time, no Ligue 1 team has ever triumphed in the Europa Leaguewhich highlights the challenges the League faces in global competitions.
To conclude, Ronaldo's statements, although they can raise emotions, also highlight interesting issues about the level of competitiveness in the different leagues around the world. This begs the question: what really defines the quality of a championship? Is it success on a national level or the ability to shine on the international stage? A reflection to continue!
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