'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ligue 1 has taken a cheeky dig at Cristiano Ronaldo after the Al-Nassr superstar opined that the Saudi Pro League was better than Ligue 1 during the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony on December 27, 2024. He also claimed that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were the only good team in the French league.
Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr in 2023 on a Bosman move after a controversial exit from Manchester United. The Portuguese superstar has since amassed 74 goals and 18 assists in 83 games for the Knights of Najd.
While speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony, Ronaldo compared the Saudi Pro League and the French league. He also talked about the climatic adversities faced by players in the Middle East.
“Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course. Try to sprint in 38, 39, 40 degree weather and see. Ligue 1 only has PSG. The other teams are finished," opined the Al-Nassr captain.
Trending
The next day, Ligue 1's X handle took a cheeky dig at the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Posting a photo of Lionel Messi with the World Cup at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, they wrote:
"Leo Messi playing in 38 degrees "(translated from Spanish by Google)
The Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi debate has dominated football discourses among fans for the last two decades. In 2022 the Argentine maestro lifted the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after defeating Kylian Mbappe's France, thereby silencing many of his critics.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-final by Morocco. A 42-minute goal by Youssef En-Nesyri was enough to seal the deal for the African giants.
Cristiano Ronaldo talks about the title battle in the Saudi Pro League
Cristiano Ronaldo was also asked about the title race in the Saudi Pro League this season. At the Globe Soccer Award ceremony, the 39-year-old superstar said:
"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."
Despite joining the Knights of Najd back in 2023, Ronaldo hasn't won an officially recognized title with the Middle Eastern outfit as of yet. Last season, Al-Nassr finished second in the Saudi Pro League -14 points behind champions Al-Hilal. This season, they are fourth in the league table, behind Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Qadisiyah.
At the Globe Soccer Awards 2024, Ronaldo was awarded the Best Middle East Player of the Year and was also a finalist for the Men's Player of the Year Award. The award eventually went to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr.
