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June 19, 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo is focused on winning Euro 2024. Still, even the intensely driven 39-year-old soccer icon can’t ignore the intriguing subplot unfolding around him.
A total of 14 players competing in the tournament currently play in the Saudi Pro League, having been attracted by the substantial financial incentives as the Middle Eastern nation strives to elevate its domestic competition to one of the best in the world.
As the marquee player, Ronaldo is in the spotlight, and how well he and his fellow Saudi league exports perform in the coming weeks will serve as a de facto referendum, potentially influencing the future landscape of global soccer.
It’s easy to dismiss the Saudi league as a minor league when compared to the prestigious competitions in England, Spain, and Italy, where Ronaldo spent the majority of his career before joining Al-Nassr. Last season, he scored an impressive 35 goals in 31 league matches.
However, the league is increasingly attracting top talent, and the notion that playing in the Arab world leaves players unprepared for significant tournaments is losing credibility.
Some of the biggest names of the past generation are now in the league, including Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mané. English Premier League star Kevin De Bruyne has even expressed his openness to a potential move.
The dynamics of the Euros add further complexity to this discussion. If a significant number of players were excluded from their national teams during this summer’s tournament due to their presence in Saudi Arabia or if they arrived at the Euros in poor shape or form, it could encourage others to accept future offers from the league.
Instead, it may be the opposite.
Thus far, the group’s performances have ranged from good to outstanding. Since winning player of the match as France defeated Austria in their opening match, N’Golo Kante has been the clear standout.
After leaving Chelsea when his contract expired, Kante appears to have become even more relentlessly fit in the year he has been at Al-Ittihad.
“His performance? You saw him,” Deschamps told reporters, after the Austria game. “We were sure about recalling him. He is smart on a technical level.”
“He has the capacity to read balls and project himself. He was really bright and we needed that.”
Although there is a growing belief in Portugal that Ronaldo’s best use might be as a substitute, he was dangerous the entire game as Portugal defeated the Czech Republic, even though he did not score.
Although he has not worried about Ronaldo’s ability to linger and remain sharp, head coach Roberto Martinez appears determined to use the player as much as possible.
“No one gets into our national team just by having a name,” Martinez said. “He is here on merit, and the numbers are there to back that up.”
For Serbia, striker Aleksandar Mitrović spearheaded the offense against England, earning a spot in the lineup for the 1-0 defeat ahead of forwards from AC Milan and Juventus.
Serbia’s head coach, Dragan Stojkovic, publicly endorsed the decision, highlighting that Mitrović and Sergey Milinkovic-Savic playing together at Al-Hilal would benefit the national team.
Similarly, Spain’s Aymeric Laporte, Portugal’s Ruben Neves, and the Netherlands’ Georginio Wijnaldum were all selected for their national squads after moving to the Middle East.
The Saudi Pro League features four clubs owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund, a massive financial entity leveraging oil profits to enhance its influence and create a lasting legacy for the nation.
But the opportunities and the money continue. Nicolae Stanciu has been Romania’s best player of the Euros and plays for 10th-place finisher Damac. Stanciu showed his quality with a spectacular goal against Ukraine to push his team to the top of Group E.
According to the Gulf newspaper The National, the Copa América features four players from the Saudi Pro League in addition to the Euros. The African Cup of Nations included 25.
This current tournament indicates that players can still be selected and perform at a high level. Given how quickly soccer adapts to trends, this may remove hesitation for those contemplating lucrative offers from the league.
The balance of power in soccer has shifted significantly. Times are changing, and what we are witnessing reflects that evolution.
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