Who will apologize to Cristiano Ronaldo?

Ronaldo was laughed at when he came to the Saudi Pro League.

Saudi Arabia is no longer a "retirement league", but a real threat to the entire football world .

Ronaldo's prediction

The day Cristiano Ronaldo signed a contract with Al Nassr, in the middle of the 2022 World Cup, people did not hesitate to criticize him. A football icon, a legendary goal-scoring machine, chose to continue his career in a football country that has never been considered classy? With a salary of 200 million euros per season, it is understandable why the public thinks that he has "unofficially retired", only playing football to earn money.

“He’s done,” “He’s just going there to retire,” “He left top-flight football for money” — the sarcasm continued to surround him. But in the midst of that storm of criticism, Ronaldo did not stay silent. He declared something that sounded ridiculous at the time: “I believe the Saudi Pro League can be among the top five leagues in the world.”

They call him crazy. Delusional. But those who have followed CR7's journey understand that he has never lived by words alone.

In England, Ronaldo conquered the Premier League with Manchester United. In Spain, he was the soul of Real Madrid in the glorious Champions League era. In Italy, he is still the top scorer in his twilight years. And now, in Saudi Arabia, he is more than just a player - he is a trailblazer.

Al Hilal created an earthquake against Manchester City at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo not only made Al Nassr the most watched team in the Middle East, but also brought about an unprecedented wave of investment. Benzema, Neymar, Kanté, Mahrez, Mané… a series of stars followed. They came not only for the money, but also because now the Saudi Pro League is truly a “big project” - both in terms of sport and geopolitics .

And today, as Saudi Arabia’s elite Al Hilal beat Manchester City at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, all eyes were forced to turn to the Middle East. No longer a fringe league, the Saudi Pro League has taken centre stage. Pep Guardiola, who once described Saudi football as “the distant horizon”, watched his multi-million dollar team go powerless. It is no longer to be underestimated.

This did not come naturally. Ronaldo did not come just to play football. He came to build, to inspire, to prove that football is not only in Europe. When renewing his contract with Al Nassr, he affirmed: "Only people who have never played football in Saudi Arabia do not understand anything about football and say that this league is not in the top 5."

Now, perhaps no one dares to laugh at that statement.

Ronaldo, the pioneer

Cristiano was once considered a fugitive, someone who only cared about money. But the truth is, as always in his career, he was one step ahead of the rest.

Now no one laughs at Al Hilal.

The Portuguese superstar doesn’t wait for recognition. He creates recognition. And when Benzema, Neymar or Brozovic arrive, when the stadiums in Riyadh and Jeddah are packed, when the matches in Saudi Arabia are broadcast globally, then everyone realises: Ronaldo saw it all before.

The question now is no longer “Is Ronaldo right or wrong”, but “Who will apologize to him?”.

Because those who once mocked Ronaldo are now forced to admit that Saudi Arabia not only knows how to attract, but also knows how to win. Not only buys stars, but also knows how to create identity. Not just a "late afternoon" tournament, but a place that is building the future.

Al Hilal eliminating Man City was no accident. It was the result of a long-term strategy. And that is why Ronaldo - despite not playing in that match - was the one smiling the most. Because the thing he was laughed at for, is now becoming an obvious reality.

When the European champions went home empty-handed, Saudi Arabia was still in the game. And Ronaldo, once considered retired, was still there, on the pitch, with a goal of 1,000 goals, with a never-ending desire. He was never finished. He just changed the line of battle.

And now, it's time for the mockers to speak up. Who was the first person to apologize to Cristiano Ronaldo?

History has a way of silencing people. And Ronaldo, in his own way, is rewriting it - again.

Man City fell to Al Hilal After Inter lost to Fluminense, it was Man City's turn to lose 3-4 to Al Hilal in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ on the morning of July 1.

Source: https://znews.vn/ai-se-xin-loi-cristiano-ronaldo-post1565236.html