Cristiano Ronaldo says Saudi Pro League 'positively surprised'

On March 18, 2023, Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo front is marked by Abha's Iraqi defender Saad Natiq during the Saudi Pro League football match between Abha and al-Nassr at Mrsool Park Stadium in Riyadh. PHOTO AFP Cristiano Ronaldo said he was surprised by the level of competition in the Saudi Pro League since joining Al Nassr in January.

He told reporters that they should look at the Saudi Pro League in a different way. I am not going to say that the league is a Premier League, that would be a lie.

It's a very competitive league that I'm positively surprised by, a very balanced league and good teams.

Ronaldo, who moved to Al-Nassr with a two-and-a-half year contract, said that the league will be the fourth, fifth or sixth most competitive in the world.

Ronaldo is part of the Portugal squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein later on Thursday and Luxembourg on Sunday.

The 38-year-old, who was benched by former coach Fernando Santos for their last two games at the World Cup, would make his 197th appearance for Portugal if he plays against Liechtenstein, surpassing Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa as the most capped player in men's football.

Ronaldo, who debuted for Portugal in 2003, likes to break records, and I have broken a lot of records.

READ MORE: Ronaldo scored four goals to pass 500 in club career.

I was looking to be the international player with the most caps, as well as being the best scorer for national teams. Portugal, who are now coached by Roberto Martinez, is in the same qualifying group as Bosnia Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Liechtenstein.