FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Three years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo shocked the world of sports by signing for Al-Nassr. Six months later, the Saudi Super League was enriched with other big names such as Karim Benzema, Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte. Although some of them were at the end of their careers, the fact that they agreed to play in the Middle East was considered a strong signal of change in world football.
The wages on offer were described as "life-changing", convincing even footballers who had previously held principled positions. Saudi Arabia was seen as a "disruptor" of the traditional transfer market order, challenging European dominance through its financial power.
Today, however, the crisis does not come from outside, but from within the championship itself.
Ronaldo, the face of the Saudi project
Since day one, Cristiano Ronaldo has become the de facto ambassador of the Saudi sports project. After renewing his contract with Al-Nassr last summer, he described the league as competitive and stressed his long-term belief in the project culminating in the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
His contribution to image and marketing is invaluable. But it now seems that the Portuguese star is no longer willing to "play the game", even in the literal sense.
No championship title, despite goals
Despite scoring 91 goals in 95 games and joining Al-Nassr when the team was top of the table, Ronaldo has yet to win a league title. This season looked to be a turning point, especially after the arrival of coach Jorge Jesus and the addition of Joao Felix and Kingsley Koeman.
The start was perfect, with 10 consecutive wins, but the team's form declined at the beginning of 2026, losing the advantage to Al-Hilal.
Dissatisfaction and weak market
In January, Al-Nassr suffered three defeats in 10 days. Coach Jesus called for reinforcements, but admitted that the club was facing budget constraints. Although two players were approached in the final days of the transfer window, they did not meet Ronaldo's expectations, especially compared to the moves of his rivals.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal made a big move by signing Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad.
Benzema and allegations of conflict of interest
Benzema's move to Al-Hilal was accompanied by controversy. The French striker was still under contract with Al-Ittihad and was willing to renew, but was unhappy with the proposed financial terms. Following the tensions, he left as a free agent.
The fact that Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli are all owned by the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) has fueled debates over conflicts of interest and possible favoritism between clubs competing in the same league.
Ronaldo on strike
According to reports, Benzema's transfer to the rivals angered Ronaldo, who refused to play in the match against Al-Riyadh, a move that damaged not only his image, but also the league itself.
Ironically, Al-Nassr won without him, closing in on the leaders by just one point, but attention was focused on the Portuguese star's absence and its consequences.
A title race in the shadows
Ronaldo remains a key figure in the Saudi project, even at the age of 40. However, the current tensions risk overshadowing a very interesting title race between the three main teams.
The main question now is whether Ronaldo will return to the field in the upcoming clash with Al-Ittihad, a match fueled by fan dissatisfaction following the transfer of Benzema.
What is clear is that the Saudi Super League, which aimed to shake up world football, is now facing internal chaos caused by its own biggest stars.
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