Ronaldo s prediction comes true! Saudi Arabia jumps to fifth in the world, and the seven major Portuguese active internationals gather in Saudi Arabia

"Look at how many superstars Saudi Arabia has now."

Ronaldo's tone was firm in his post-friendly interview. He gave an unquestionable answer to the reporter's question about Felix's victory in Riyadh.

In the eyes of Ronaldo, the Saudi League has surpassed the Portuguese Super League and other European second-tier leagues, becoming the veritable fifth largest league in the world.

Just 24 hours ago, 25-year-old Felix just finished his first training in Riyadh victory. The move of this European golden boy in the east marks the last part of the Saudi League’s completion of the superstar puzzle. The spectacular scene of the collective expedition of seven Portuguese active international players is unique in the history of world football.

1, 7 active Portuguese internationals gathered in Saudi Arabia

When Felix signed a contract with an annual salary of 30 million euros after tax, he not only changed his career trajectory, but also became a symbolic event in the rise of the Saudi league.

This former genius chose to fight side by side with Ronaldo at the crossroads of his career rather than return to the Portuguese Super League parent team Benfica.

Felix's joining set a new record in the Saudi league. He is the 7th Portuguese active international to be in Saudi Arabia.

They are distributed in major Saudi clubs: Cristiano Ronaldo, Otavio and Felix in Riyadh; Riyadh Crescent has Neves and Cancelo; Jeddah is led by Pereira; and Bodens plays for the Riyadh youth.

2. The rise of the fifth league

Ronaldo's prediction two years ago had come true. In May 2023, Ronaldo, who first entered Saudi Arabia, boldly predicted: "The Saudi league has hope to become one of the five best leagues in the future."

This remark at that time attracted a burst of ridicule from European football.

Now the data has become the strongest testimony, with the 2024 Saudi League net expenditure of 117.7 million euros in the winter window, second only to the Premier League in the world.

Last season's AFC Champions League, Jeddah Nationals won the Cup, and the scene of Riyadh Crescent and European giants fighting hard against each other in the Club World Cup completely changed the stereotype of "high salary and low ability".

Royce used his actions to crush the doubts. At the age of 40, he scored 35 goals in the Saudi League last season and set a new record. What's even more amazing is that he just won the Golden Boot in the European League, leading Portugal to defeat Germany and Spain in a row.

3. When Pereira, who played for Jeddah, held the Saudi double championship trophy, he might not have expected that he would hold the trophy again on the UEFA final stage in two months.

C Ronaldo revealed the tactical mystery: "If the two play together in the club, they will accumulate 40-50 official games and 300 joint training at the end of the season."

This kind of club-level tacit understanding directly serves the 2026 World Cup. Portugal coach Martinez once admitted that there is "insufficient tacit understanding" among forward players, and the Saudi League is solving this problem.

History is the best prophet. When the Portuguese European Cup won the 2016 European Cup, William Carvalho, Adrian Silva and Joao Mario in the team's midfielders laid the victory with their long-term cooperation in Portugal Sports.

Now Ronaldo has replicated this successful model in Saudi Arabia.

4. The blueprint of Saudi football's gamble

Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is clearly visible. The plan to invest 2.5 billion euros in three years aims at the 2027 AFC Champions League restructuring and the 2034 World Cup.

Foreign aid policy has become a key leverage. The Saudi Football Association announced at the end of 2023 that each team can register 10 foreign players and a maximum of 8 foreign players can be sent to the court in each game. This unprecedentedly open signing policy has enabled the league's competitive level to leap in the short term.

The star-studded Saudi League has attracted more than 30 stars from the top five leagues to join.

While European football is still arguing about the true level of the Saudi league, Ronaldo and his Portuguese comrades have already won the UEFA Nations League trophy in the desert, which is the most powerful fight back to doubters.