Cristiano Ronaldo: Saudi Pro League can become a 'top-five league in the world'

Ronaldo finished the Saudi Pro League play with 14 goals successful 16 games for Al Nassr

The Saudi Pro League tin go a "top-five league successful the world" if they tin pull much big-name players, says Portugal guardant Cristiano Ronaldo.

The five-time Ballon d'Or victor has completed his archetypal play with Al Nassr aft joining successful December.

He has a declaration to 2025 and added helium "will proceed here" adjacent season.

Paris St-Germain person confirmed Messi volition permission the nine this summertime and the Argentina forward, 35, has a relation arsenic a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia.

• PSG guardant Messi apologises for unauthorised travel to Saudi Arabia
• Ronaldo becomes world's highest-paid jock aft Al Nassr determination - Forbes

Ronaldo's erstwhile Real Madrid team-mates Benzema and Modric are besides thought to beryllium looking for lucrative moves astatine the process extremity of their careers.

"If they are coming, large players and large names, young players, 'old players', they are precise invited due to the fact that if that happens, the league volition amended a small bit," Ronaldo said successful an interrogation with the SPL.

"The league is precise bully but I deliberation we person galore opportunities to inactive grow. The league is competitive. We person precise bully teams, precise bully Arab players.

"But they request to amended a small spot much the infrastructure. Even the referees, the VAR system, should beryllium a small quicker."

Ronaldo's 2nd stint with Manchester United ended past November erstwhile his declaration was cancelled by communal consent.

After becoming the lone subordinate to people successful 5 antithetic World Cup tournaments, helium scored 14 goals successful 16 games to assistance Riyadh-based Al Nassr decorativeness 2nd down champions Al Hilal.

"I deliberation different tiny things they request to improve," added Ronaldo, who holds the records for astir planetary goals and appearances.

"But I americium blessed here, I privation to proceed here, I volition proceed here. And successful my sentiment if they proceed to bash the enactment that they privation to bash here, for the adjacent 5 years, I deliberation the Saudi league tin beryllium a apical 5 league successful the world."