Saudi Pro League shifts focus but Ronaldo still dominates

The new Saudi Pro League season begins with a familiar tension at its heart. The competition is attempting to move beyond the first wave of headline-grabbing recruitment and towards a model that improves Saudi Arabian football more broadly, yet Cristiano Ronaldo still stands at the centre of the conversation.

Ronaldo remains the league’s biggest storyline

There is no Mohamed Salah arriving for the start of the campaign, and that in itself says something about the changing mood. The era built around ageing global superstars appears to be easing, even if the league’s most recognisable figure continues to shape the narrative.

Ronaldo, now 41, is closing in on 1,000 career goals. Having already scored 102 times in 107 league games for Al-Nassr, he is 24 away from that landmark, making it entirely possible that the milestone will be reached this season. For a league still building its international identity, that chase offers obvious visibility. The question is how neatly it fits with a longer-term strategy that is supposed to be about more than one player.

From spending spree to long-term value

This is the fourth season since Saudi clubs began spending heavily, a period that accelerated dramatically in 2023 when $957m was committed. The investment brought global attention, international broadcast agreements and a flood of interest in the league’s star names.

Now the emphasis appears to be shifting. The objective is no longer simply to attract famous players, but to generate better value and raise standards across the domestic game. That means improving not only the strongest clubs, but also the wider level of Saudi football.

That ambition has become more urgent because the national team has not yet shown clear signs of benefiting. An early World Cup exit prompted scrutiny over whether the money poured into the league had translated into stronger local development. For now, the answer appears uncertain at best.

The challenge of developing Saudi talent

One of the central concerns is that the Saudi Pro League still does not export talent to Europe in meaningful numbers. Of the 26-man World Cup squad, only Saud Abdulhamid of Lens plays abroad. That has reinforced a growing consensus that more Saudi players need pathways beyond the domestic competition.

There is also concern over playing time. Local players can be crowded out by imported talent, particularly in attacking, creative and goalkeeping roles. While the standard of the top teams has clearly risen — reflected in stronger performances by Saudi clubs in Asian competition — that progress has not yet been mirrored by the national side.

• Only Saud Abdulhamid from the World Cup squad plays overseas, at Lens.
• Foreign players often dominate creative, goalscoring and goalkeeping positions.
• Saudi clubs have enjoyed increased success in Asian club competitions.

Younger signings and pressure at the top

The reduced momentum around a move for Salah reflects this recalibration. Even if the Egyptian would have brought enormous appeal, the preferred profile now appears to be younger players with the potential to return to Europe for significant fees.

Crysencio Summerville is the clearest example so far. The 24-year-old Dutch winger has joined Al-Hilal for around €80m, a deal that fits the idea of signing players with resale value rather than simply established names nearing the end of their careers.

Yet the pressure to win has not gone away. Al-Hilal, with 19 league titles and four Asian championships, are not built to accept second place. Simone Inzaghi inherits a squad featuring Karim Benzema, Rúben Neves, Theo Hernández, Yassine Bounou and Kalidou Koulibaly, and the expectation is to reclaim the title from Al-Nassr.

Al-Nassr, meanwhile, are entering the season after lifting the trophy in May. Jorge Jesus has departed to take over Portugal and has been replaced by Ange Postecoglou. With Sadio Mané, Kingsley Coman and João Félix available, there is still star power, although financial issues have limited new arrivals. A first Asian Champions League title would be a major target.

Al-Ahli also remain a force after winning a second successive continental title in April. Taken together, the leading clubs ensure the Saudi Pro League will continue to attract attention. But as the season opens, the bigger issue is whether that attention can finally serve a wider football purpose.