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He paved the way for global stars to join the league (Benzema, Neymar, Kanté, Mané, João Félix, and many others). Without his bold move, this current influx of world-class talent would not exist. It took Major League Soccer 20 years to attract Beckham/Messi, while Ronaldo changed the face of the Saudi Pro League in just 20 months.
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After his arrival, the Saudi league secured broadcasting deals in more than 140 regions on networks such as DAZN, Canal+, and Sony.
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His presence led to a massive increase in sponsorship deals and commercial revenues, turning the Saudi Pro League into a globally viable football business.
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He is the main ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s bids to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 Esports World Cup. He is the central figure in Saudi Arabia’s rise as a global sports hub.
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The Saudi Pro League aims to become one of the top ten leagues in the world in terms of revenue. He transformed a regional league into a multi-billion-dollar project almost overnight.
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Al-Nassr gained 22 million followers in just two months. Stadium attendance increased by 20% at home matches and 15% away since his arrival.
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Tourism promotion campaigns now position the Kingdom as a top destination for sport and culture, reaching an audience of over 600 million.
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His influence aligns directly with Saudi Vision 2030’s $800 billion investment, driving tourism and hosting rights that will benefit the nation for decades.
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Viewership of the Saudi Pro League rose dramatically from 25 million annual viewers in 2015 to 250 million viewers in 2026.
Cristiano Ronaldo has given everything: his goals, his image, and his influence to put Saudi Arabia on the global map.
Seeing him now being ignored by the system is the height of disrespect.
The scandals of the Saudi league have become both laughable and sad at the same time: manipulation of VAR lines, poor refereeing standards, weak television broadcast and production, and poor stadium quality. How can they host major global sporting tournaments?!
