Eden Hazard Destroys Cristiano Ronaldo’s Bold Saudi League Claim- ‘A Ligue 1 Team Would Win Against a Saudi Team’

Cristiano Ronaldo has arguably been an unofficial ambassador to the Saudi Pro League since he joined the Riyadh-based club Al Nassr. He thinks the Saudi League is already one of the top five soccer leagues in the world. Recently, during the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo ignited controversy by saying that the Roshn Saudi League has surpassed France’s Ligue 1 in terms of quality. Days after that, Chelsea legend Eden Hazard has now dragged dirt on that outlandish claim, giving a reality check to the Al Nassr skipper.

CR7’s Ligue 1 claim became a talking point on the latest episode of John Obi-Mikel’s ‘The Obi One Podcast,’ featuring Eden Hazard. “I’m not agreeing with him [Cristiano Ronaldo]. I’m sure if a Ligue 1 team played against a Saudi Arabian team, they would win. Maybe not easily, like people might think, but the level in France is good,” said Eden Hazard. He added that the Saudi League houses big players, but not big clubs. Ligue 1, on the contrary, boasts bigger clubs than the SPL, according to Hazard.

The Belgian midfielder notably snubbed an offer north of $50 million from a Saudi Arabian club before he shockingly retired last year. Besides, Hazard’s critique of CR7’s claim indeed seems to be right. During the Riyadh Season Cup in 2023, a combined eleven of Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs, Al Nassr and Al Hilal faced Ligue 1’s PSG. The combined eleven led by Ronaldo succumbed to the Parisian club that night. Moreover, Hazard is not the only soccer icon to question the Portuguese veteran’s outlandish take. He had faced tremendous backlash earlier for downplaying the Ligue 1.

Prior disagreements over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi League hype-up

When Ronaldo’s mockery of Ligue 1 became the talk of the town, the French League’s social media handles used Lionel Messi’s statements to counter the former. “It’s a much more physical championship than the league. The teams seem more physical and the matches are tough, they leave you very little space. The players are very strong,” Lionel Messi said about the French League after he joined PSG in 2021. Meanwhile, French side Lille’s coach Paulo Fonseca said he did not have any time to spare responding to Ronaldo’s statements.

READ MORE: WATCH – Cristiano Ronaldo Throws a Fit After Al Nassr’s Defense Crumbles Against Al Fateh

Besides, French club Brest’s head coach Eric Roy openly challenged Ronaldo to come to the Ligue 1 field before making such statements on a league he has no prior experience with. It is yet to be learned if Al Nassr or any Saudi side will play against a Ligue 1 club in a friendly fixture. Such a match will perhaps be a test to prove if Ronaldo was right or wrong. Until then, most of the soccer world, including Hazard, thinks the Al Nassr captain was wrong. What are your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments.

WATCH THIS STORY: Meet the Legendary Tennis Player Who is 3x Richer than Cristiano Ronaldo