In his recent interview with CNN, Brazilian footballer has declared the Saudi Pro League to be “better” than Ligue 1, which is France’s top football league.
“The level of the Saudi Pro League is increasing… it’s better than Ligue 1” Neymar said after winning the Player Career Award at the recent Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai.
Neymar’s comments, made less than a year after his high-profile move to Al-Hilal from Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain.
Neymar spent six seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, made 112 appearances and netted 82 goals. He joined the Paris-based club in 2017 from Barcelona for a world-record transfer fees of €222 million.
Neymar is not the first footballer to rate Saudi Pro League above Ligue 1. Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has also made the similar claim. ” “The Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1” Ronaldo said at the the Globe Soccer Awards in December last month.
Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr in 2023 as his contract with Premier League giant Manchester United was terminated midway of the 2022-23 season.
Ballon d’or winner Karim Benzema, World Cup winner N’Golo Kante, England’s Jordan Henderson who won Premier League with Liverpool, are some of the other top footballers who have joined Saudi Pro League in the last few years.
Top footballers joining and praising Saudi Pro League highlights Saudi’s increased financial clout in football compared to Europe, which till recently was considered as the powercenter of the sport.
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