Toni Kroos: 'Without Ronaldo, no one watches the Saudi Pro League'

Toni Kroos publicly supported Cristiano Ronaldo during the debate surrounding the Saudi Pro League, suggesting the competition would lose international attention without the Portuguese star.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos spoke up in defense of Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese icon became involved in disputes related to his “strike” period at Al Nassr. According to Kroos, Ronaldo’s influence is so significant that if CR7 departs Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Pro League will struggle to maintain its international fanbase.

Ronaldo recently returned to training with Al Nassr after missing the last two matches. Portuguese media reported that the 41-year-old forward expressed dissatisfaction with the January transfer policy, especially regarding the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) allowing Karim Benzema to move from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal, thereby strengthening a direct title rival to Al Nassr.

According to plans, Ronaldo will make his comeback in the match against Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League this weekend. Prior to that, Al Nassr has an AFC Champions League Two game against Arkadag (Turkmenistan), but CR7 is not on the registered squad list.

While the controversy continues, Toni Kroos, who once played alongside Ronaldo during his peak years at Real Madrid, candidly shared his opinion on his personal podcast. “The Saudi Pro League is a very strange phenomenon. Before Cristiano Ronaldo arrived, hardly anyone knew about this league. Now, they are disrespecting the very player who put the league on the global football map”, Kroos emphasized.

Not stopping there, the former German international further stressed Ronaldo’s central role in the league’s appeal: “If Cristiano leaves tomorrow, the league will lose all its attraction. Without Ronaldo, no one will watch the Saudi Pro League”.

In response to these remarks, the Saudi Pro League organizers issued a statement affirming that the league operates under the principle of independent clubs, and no individual has the authority to influence decisions beyond their own team. While acknowledging Ronaldo’s key role at Al Nassr, the organizers stressed that all transfers comply with a financial framework designed to ensure competitiveness.

Putting aside off-field controversies, Ronaldo remains the driving force for Al Nassr this season. He has scored 17 goals in 18 matches in the Saudi Pro League, maintaining an impressive scoring rate despite being 41 years old, demonstrating why Cristiano Ronaldo remains the most influential figure in Saudi Arabian football today.