In recent months, Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has made waves in the football world with his bold statements regarding European soccer. Following his move to the Saudi Arabian team, Al-Nassr, Ronaldo expressed his newfound admiration for the league. Interestingly, Ronaldo is not alone in his assessment of European soccer.

The Portuguese superstar shocked fans when he boldly claimed that “European football has lost lot of quality”. This statement has divided opinions among soccer fans, with some agreeing with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and others staunchly defending European soccer’s reputation. But Ronaldo is not the only one sharing this sentiment. Nelo Vingada, a veteran coach who previously worked with the Portuguese National Team and Saudi Arabia, has also voiced his agreement with Ronaldo’s viewpoint.

After Cristiano Ronaldo, Vingada also believes European soccer quality is dwindling

As per Portuguese media, Nelo Vingada, in his point to justify the decline in European soccer, pointed to the loss of excitement and engagement that fans used to experience when watching matches. He stated, “In the last two or three years, they have lost a bit of that vibrant flame of sitting down, watching, and sometimes switching from a game in Spain to one in Germany by zapping”.

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Vingada’s observation suggests that the thrill of following multiple leagues and witnessing top-quality soccer has diminished over time. The 70-year-old further highlighted Liga Portugal as a standout among Europe’s top leagues. He claimed, “The French, Italian, and German leagues have clearly lost out”. Specifically, he criticized the lack of competitiveness in Barcelona’s La Liga title win.

He remarked, “The other clubs were so weak that Barcelona ended up being champions without much competitiveness, 10 points ahead and very early”. Moreover, Vingada’s comments about the German league raised eyebrows. He stated, “Right now, we’re wondering who the German player of reference is and we don’t remember or know very well”.

The veteran coach did acknowledge some talent in Europe. Vingada stated, “In Spain, there’s Pedri and two or three other kids, but we’ll see what they can do”.

Both individuals have experienced European soccer at the highest level. And both share the same belief that the quality and excitement of the sport have diminished in recent years. What are your thoughts on these comments? Let us know in the comments.

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