Cristiano Ronaldo never does subtle.

Whether he’s scoring acrobatic goals, collecting shiny awards, or dropping verbal grenades, the man knows how to stay in the headlines. It’s classic CR7. “If you want to be on the front page of the newspaper, talk about Cristiano,” he once quipped during his Real Madrid days. And that’s exactly what happened after Friday’s Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, where he decided to spice things up—not with his trademark free kicks, but with a few carefully aimed shots at an entire league. That irked French football fans and even, united archrivals of the league against him.

At the gala event with all the soccer glamour in attendance, Cristiano Ronaldo, fresh off winning the MVP of the Middle East award, made his way to the podium with his usual swagger—so fast, he didn’t even wait for his name to be fully announced. But it wasn’t his acceptance speech that stole the show. Speaking to the media, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner declared, “Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course. France only has PSG. The rest are finished. Try to sprint in 38, 39, 40-degree weather and see.”

A cannonball aimed squarely at French football. The backlash was swift. Among the flood of reactions, the one that really stole the show came from Ligue 1’s perennial underdog-turned-contender, AS Monaco.

Their English-language X account delivered a mocking blow. On the ‘Here we go’ guy, the most renowned player transfer insider, Fabrizio Romano’s post on X, posting a GIF visual of The Office’s Jim Halpert (played by John Krasinski) saying, “What?” Probably the embodiment of every Ligue 1 fan’s incredulous reaction to Ronaldo’s take. The fact that it came from Monaco, the home of France’s other megastar, Kylian Mbappé, added an extra layer of irony.

And Ligue 1 wasn’t done yet. Its official Spanish account already jumped into the fray with a nuclear-level clapback: a photo of Lionel Messi holding the World Cup trophy alongside his Player of the Tournament award, captioned, “Leo Messi playing in 38 degrees.” It was a subtle yet devastating reminder of Messi’s World Cup triumph in Qatar’s sweltering heat—a feat Ronaldo has yet to match in his glittering career. This wasn’t just about leagues anymore; it was a direct shot in the eternal Messi vs. Ronaldo debate.

But let’s unpack Ronaldo’s claim for a moment. Is Ligue 1 really a one-team league? Sure, PSG has dominated in recent years, but clubs like Monaco, Lille, and Lyon have consistently punched above their weight on the European stage. Monaco, currently third in the Ligue 1 standings, is also making waves in the Champions League. They sit 16th in the league phase of the new format, with a strong chance of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Lille recently pulled off a stunning win over Real Madrid—a side Cristiano Ronaldo knows 450 things two about as the great white’s record goal-scorer.

On the flip side, the Saudi Pro League has made headlines for its superstar signings, with the brand CR7 bringing global attention to the league. Ronaldo’s 16 goals and three assists in 19 games this season for Al-Nassr is a testament to his ageless brilliance. However, the league’s overall quality and depth remain untested in a competitive European context.

Tactically, Ligue 1 and the Saudi Pro League operate on different planes. Ligue 1’s high-pressing, counter-attacking style has produced some of Europe’s finest talents, from Mbappé to Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté. Meanwhile, the Saudi Pro League relies heavily on individual brilliance, with marquee players carrying the weight of their teams. While Ronaldo’s performances in scorching heat are impressive, they don’t necessarily elevate the league to Ligue 1’s tactical or competitive level. But what led to the Portuguese mercurial making this outrageous claim

CR7 takes shots at the status quo at the Dubai ceremony

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t hold back during the Globe Soccer Awards, delivering some spicy takes, especially about French football and stirring the pot on the Ballon d’Or (operated by France Football) debate. The ceremony itself had its fair share of drama, with Real Madrid players skipping the Paris event entirely. And while many thought Vinícius Júnior was a lock for the prestigious award, the spotlight ultimately fell on Rodri, thanks to his Premier League triumph with Manchester City and Spain’s European Championship win.

But Ronaldo had a different take, “In my opinion, Vini deserved the Ballon d’Or. It was unfair. I’ll say it here in front of everyone,” he declared. While acknowledging Rodri’s accomplishments, Ronaldo argued that the Brazilian, who scored in the Champions League final and played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s success individually, was more deserving.

Whether his words were a calculated jab or a heat-of-the-moment boast, one thing is clear: Cristiano knows how to keep the world talking.