Cristiano Ronaldo has doubled down on his sensational claim in early 2024 that the Saudi Pro League was better than Ligue 1.
The Portuguese legend spoke at the Globe Soccer Awards, where he was once again honored, this time collecting the gong for Best Player in the Middle East 2024.
Ronaldo moved to the Middle East and Saudi Arabia when he signed for Al-Nassr in early 2023, and has inspired a mass exodus of talent from Europe to the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo had therefore claimed earlier this year that the quality of the division was now superior to that of the French top flight, and he took the opportunity on Friday night to underline that hypothesis.
“The Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course. France only has PSG. The rest is finished.
“Try running in 38, 39, 40 degree weather and you'll see…”
Cristiano Ronaldo redoubled his criticism of the French top flight on Friday night
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner won the Middle East Player of 2024 award on Friday.
His Al-Nassr is 11 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad and is currently fourth in the Saudi Pro League.
He added: “It is difficult to become champion in Saudi Arabia. This year Al-Hilal is better, Al-Ittihad is the leader of the league, but I think we have to work hard to be champions.
“I have been champion everywhere I have played and I think I will be champion, but I won this trophy for scoring so many goals and assists and maintaining my level.”
Since moving to Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are yet to win the Saudi top flight, with leaders Al-Ittihad some 11 points ahead of Ronaldo and company in fourth place.
The French league is considered one of the five main divisions in Europe, along with the Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A and Spanish LaLiga.
However, of the five, Ligue 1 is considered by many to be the weakest. Only one French team has ever won the Champions League or the European Cup (Marseille in 1993).
In comparison, the other four have had numerous victories; Spain leads the ranking (20), followed by England (15), Italy (12) and Germany (8), with France in seventh place behind the Netherlands (6) and Portugal (4).
“The Saudis are in a process that will take a long time, but step by step we will reach the highest level,” Ronaldo said in January 2024.
'I think they will be among the top three or four in the world. Step by step I think we are going to get there.
Ronaldo's move to the Saudi Pro League saw several famous faces move away from Europe
The 39-year-old suggested that, apart from PSG, there are no big clubs in France.
'The current level? To be honest, I think the Saudi league is no worse than the French one in my opinion.
“In the French league I think there are two or three teams with a good level. In Saudi Arabia I think it is more competitive.
'They can say whatever they want. This is just my opinion and I've played there for a year so I know what I'm talking about.
“But I think right now we are better than the French league.”
In Ronaldo's appearance on Friday night he also spoke about the current situation at his former club, Manchester United.
After a partial takeover by Sir Jim Ratcliffe was completed 12 months ago, United have yet to move on and return to the top of the pile.
A coaching change earlier this season brought Rubén Amorim to the bench, and after a bright start, the coach has suffered three consecutive defeats in a period characterized by strict cost-cutting measures.
On Friday, Ronaldo hinted that a significant overhaul would be needed for the club to return to its former glory.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos group took control of United's football operations 12 months ago
But results on the pitch have yet to improve as the club is in the midst of its worst start to the Premier League.
Ronaldo insisted that the blame should not fall on his former Portugal teammate Rubén Amorim
'They need, I said it a year and a half ago, and I will continue to say it: the problem is not the coaches, it's like… I always give this example… it's like an aquarium.
'If you have the fish inside and it is sick and you take it out, solve the problem and put it back in an aquarium, you will get sick again.
'Manchester United's problem is the same. The problem is not always the coach. It's much more than that.'
As well as highlighting the problems he believes have caused the club to stagnate in recent years, Ronaldo also made the bold claim that he could personally fix the problems.
He continued: “If I am the owner of the club, I will set the record straight and correct whatever is wrong there.”